Comparison
Mint Julep vs Mojito
A Mint Julep and Mojito both use mint and sweetness, but they are not interchangeable. The classic Julep is a bourbon drink served over crushed ice; the Mojito combines rum, lime, mint, sugar and soda for a taller, citrus-led and carbonated structure.
Option A
Mint Julep
Choose the Mint Julep when you want mint around a clear bourbon centre and do not need citrus or carbonation.
Option B
Mojito
Choose the Mojito when you want mint with rum, lime acidity and the lift of soda water.
Quick verdict
Choose a Mint Julep for bourbon, mint and a compact spirit-forward build over crushed ice. Choose a Mojito for rum, lime, mint and soda in a taller, more refreshing format. The table below shows how WhatDrink's specific recipes differ in calories, sugar, ABV and serving structure.
Mint Julep vs Mojito — at a glance
| Metric | Mint Julep | Mojito |
|---|---|---|
| Calories (est.) | 195kcal | 211kcal |
| Sugar (est.) | 2.8g | 8.9g |
| Carbs (est.) | 2.8g | 11.5g |
| ABV | 37.5% | 18.6% |
| US standard drinks | 1.88 | 1.82 |
| Ingredient count | 4↓ | 5 |
| Glass | Collins Glass | Highball Glass |
| Drink type | Cocktail | Cocktail |
↓ = lower in this metric. Nutrition values are estimates. — = data not available.
Why the shared mint is misleading
Mint makes the drinks look closely related, but the base spirit and drink format pull them in different directions. The Julep is built around bourbon and crushed-ice dilution; the Mojito is a rum highball whose lime and soda materially change the balance.
Taste difference
Mint is the common thread, but the supporting flavours separate the drinks. Bourbon gives the Julep a whiskey-led base, while lime and soda make the Mojito brighter, more acidic and more diluted. Sweetness depends on the exact recipe rather than the drink name alone.
Nutrition difference
Nutrition data is not fully available for one or both drinks. Values shown are estimates from WhatDrink recipe data where available.
When to choose each
→ Mint Julep
Choose the Mint Julep when you want mint around a clear bourbon centre and do not need citrus or carbonation.
→ Mojito
Choose the Mojito when you want mint with rum, lime acidity and the lift of soda water.
Recipe data
Nutrition values are estimates based on standard recipe quantities.
Methodology
Frequently asked questions
- Can you substitute a Mojito for a Mint Julep?
- Only if the goal is broadly a mint-led drink. The base spirit, lime and carbonation are different, so the finished flavour and texture will not be equivalent.
- Which drink is stronger?
- Use the recipe-specific ABV and US standard-drink estimates on this page. A classic structure suggests different dilution, but the actual alcohol load depends on the pour and serving size.
- What is the main difference between Mint Julep and Mojito?
- In WhatDrink's recipe data, Mint Julep is about 37.5% ABV and Mojito about 18.6%; Mint Julep is served in a Collins Glass and Mojito in a Highball Glass; Mint Julep has 4 listed ingredients and Mojito has 5; their flavour tags differ — caramel for Mint Julep, sparkling for Mojito.
- What does a Mint Julep taste like?
- WhatDrink's ingredient-level flavour tags for Mint Julep: sugar, sweet and caramel.
- What does a Mojito taste like?
- WhatDrink's ingredient-level flavour tags for Mojito: sugar, sparkling and sweet.
- Can you substitute a Mint Julep for a Mojito?
- They differ enough that a direct substitution will change the drink meaningfully. If you enjoy both flavors, you can swap in some contexts — a bartender can usually advise on the closest adaptation.
- Which is lower in calories?
- The comparison table above shows the estimated calorie difference from WhatDrink recipe data. The actual gap depends on the specific recipe and portion size used. Neither should be assumed to be "low calorie" without checking the number.
- When should I order a Mint Julep vs a Mojito?
- Mint Julep tends to suit different occasions and moods than Mojito. The "When to choose" section above gives a side-by-side guide based on flavor intensity, ABV, and occasion fit from WhatDrink data.
- Which is stronger?
- By ABV, Mint Julep is stronger in WhatDrink's recipes: about 37.5% versus 18.6% for Mojito. Per serving the alcohol is about the same (1.88 vs 1.82 US standard drinks).