Handy & Schiller Small Batch Mint Julep Cocktail
35% ABV (70 proof) | 750mL | Ready-to-drink bottled cocktail, bourbon-based | Made in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky — Handy & Schiller Small Batch Mint Julep is a ready-to-pour Kentucky classic: a fresh, small-batch mint julep built on bourbon, bottled at 70 proof in a full 750mL bottle. It's made in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and belongs to the brand's Small Batch line — fresh RTD releases like this julep and the Paper Plane — distinct from its barrel-aged Barreled line. Just pour over crushed ice and add a fresh mint sprig. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The mint julep is one of America's oldest cocktails — and this bottle skips the muddling entirely. Named for Thomas Handy and John Schiller, two 19th-century New Orleans cocktail pioneers of the Sazerac Coffee House era, Handy & Schiller is a Sazerac Company project honoring their place in cocktail history. Among ready-to-drink cocktails, few arrive at a full 70 proof with a real bourbon backbone — this one pours like a proper julep, not a soft drink.
Tasting notes
Nose: fresh mint, vanilla, caramel sweetness, a whisper of oak. Palate: cool mint layered over sweet bourbon, caramel, honey and toasted oak. Finish: smooth and cooling — lingering mint freshness riding bourbon warmth.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 70 proof (35% ABV) — a real-spirits RTD, not a malt beverage
- Bourbon-based, made in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky
- 750mL bottle — serves roughly eight proper juleps
- Small Batch line — fresh-release recipe, not barrel-aged
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Serve chilled: fill a julep cup or rocks glass with crushed ice, pour 3–4 ounces, and garnish with a fresh mint sprig — clap the mint between your palms first to release the oils. Kentucky Derby party essential.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ABV of Handy & Schiller Mint Julep?
35% ABV (70 proof) — a full-strength bourbon-based ready-to-drink cocktail, confirmed across retailer listings.
Is it carbonated?
No — it's a still bottled cocktail, ready to pour over ice.
Who makes Handy & Schiller?
The brand is a Sazerac Company project, produced in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and named for 19th-century New Orleans cocktail pioneers Thomas Handy and John Schiller.
How many juleps does the bottle make?
A 750mL bottle pours roughly eight 3-ounce juleps.