Churchill Downs is charging $22 for a Mint Julep and souvenir glass that you'll probably lose

The Mint Julep is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, a symbol of the Derby tradition and Kentucky’s southern hospitality. Though controversial among many Kentuckians, the Julep’s connection to the first Saturday in May is undeniable, whether you’re a Julep traditionalist who enjoys the bourbon-based cocktail on Derby weekend or a bourbon purist who scoffs at adding sugary water and mint to good juice.

Wherever you stand in the debate, it is also undeniable that 22 American dollars is a steep price for a Mint Julep. Each Mint Julep sold at Churchill Downs is served in a commemorative keepsake glass (which is a nuisance to keep up with throughout the day). Still, even if you make it home with the costly souvenir, $22 per Mint Julep is a lot to ask from someone who is already down bad, betting on the races.

Looking back, the price of the Mint Julep survived inflation from 2024, when Churchill Downs had no trouble serving $22 Mint Juleps at the 150th Run For The Roses. An estimated 125,000 Mint Juleps were sold between the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in 2024, requiring 10,000 bottles of bourbon, 2,250 pounds of fresh mint, and 475,000 pounds of ice.

Churchill Downs expects to sell another 125,000 or more $22 Mint Juleps this year. Truth be told, I will likely contribute to that tally later this week despite the outrageous cost of a round. (I will likely lose the commemorative glasses, too.)

If Mint Juleps aren’t your thing, three other $22 cocktail options are available, including the Oaks Lily, the signature drink of the Kentucky Oaks. You can also save three bucks with a premium cocktail for $19 or pay the very low price of $13-14 per beer. Remember, work in one of those $5 waters every now and then, too.

(Roush’s Note: These are only the prices during the week of racing. They very well may increase on Oaks and Derby Day. Furthermore, only general admission customers must pay for drinks on Oaks and Derby Day. Even at the steep cost, you still don’t get the souvenir glass. They’ve been replaced by plastic in the Infield. It’s almost as if the folks in the suits at CDI don’t realize that some people have collections dating back 40 years from every Derby they’ve attended…)

Mint Julep Prices Through the Years

According to Darren Rovell, a Mint Julep was less than a buck almost a hundred years ago. The U.S. Inflation Calculator says the 75-cent Julep amounts to around $17 per drink in 2025. Imagine the fun you could have with 75-cent Mint Juleps today.

Just eight years ago, Churchill charged $15.00 per Mint Julep:

• 1940…. $0.75
• 1967…. $1.50
• 1980…. $3.00
• 1987…. $4.25
• 2006…. $9.00
• 2016…. $15.00
• 2024…. $22.00

Make Mint Juleps at home

The most budget-friendly Mint Julep is the one you make at home. KentuckyDerby.com reveals Churchill Downs’ simple recipe for making a batch of Mint Juleps for your Derby party:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky

• Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.
• Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon of mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Whisky.
• Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.