Updated May 2026.
The IBA Mint Julep is 60 ml bourbon, four mint sprigs, 1 tsp powdered sugar, and 2 tsp water. That 60 ml of 40% bourbon is 1.36 NIAAA standard drinks; 50% (100 proof) is 1.69. Kentucky Derby marketing is not a TTB class. “Best bourbon” is a bottle that still tastes like bourbon after mint and sugar — not a 2022 top-10 tasting.
The IBA pour is larger than the 45 ml Old Fashioned. 90–100 proof is the working band. Related: Old Fashioned, dash of bitters (this drink has none).
What the cup actually needs
| Job | Typical bottles | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IBA 60 ml default | Buffalo Trace 90, Woodford 90.4, Wild Turkey 101, Old Forester 100 | Holds up to mint/sugar; 27 CFR 5.143 |
| Bonded | Evan Williams / Beam / Old Grand-Dad Bonded | 100 proof; 60 ml = 1.69 drinks |
| Wheat / softer | Maker’s Mark 90 | Wheat in the flavoring-grain slot |
| Skip | Mint liqueurs, 60-proof “julep” RTDs | Different class |
Four IBA juleps at 40% are about 5.4 drinks. Crushed ice melt dilutes flavor, not the ethanol you already poured. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. No 2026 MSRP.
Sources
- IBA Mint Julep (fetched 2026): 60 ml bourbon, 4 mint sprigs, 1 tsp sugar, 2 tsp water.
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143. NIAAA (December 2025). No invented ranking.