Mint Julep Lemonade

🍋 Mint Julep Lemonade 🌿🍹 Ingredients 🛒 1 cup granulated sugar 🍚 1 cup water 💧 1 bunch fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish 🌿 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons) 🍋 4 cups cold water 💧 Crushed ice 🧊 Bourbon (optional, for a traditional mint julep twist) 🥃 Instructions 📜 Make Mint Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar and 1 cup of water. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add a bunch of fresh mint leaves to the syrup. Let the mint steep in the syrup for about 15-20 minutes to infuse the flavors 🌿. Strain and Cool: Strain the mint leaves from the syrup using a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Allow the mint syrup to cool to room temperature. You can speed up the process by placing it in the refrigerator.