Celebrate Kentucky Derby Day With Mint Juleps And More This Weekend

When it comes to celebrating the Kentucky Derby, the drink of choice is the Mint Julep. The classic mixture of bourbon, mint, and sugar served with plenty of crushed ice is an American classic. It became the official cocktail after the fall of Prohibition. During this Derby weekend whether you are roaming the lively streets of Louisville, attending a viewing party or throwing your own dapper soiree, make sure to have a traditional julep as well as sip on a unique twist. We have listed some cocktails to imbibe while watching the race for the roses involving bourbon and alternative spirits to celebrate with friends. Now it’s off to the races!

Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon Thyme Julep

 by Frank Liotti (New York, NY)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
• 1 bar spoon Simple Syrup
• 1 dash Angostura® Bitters
• 6 Fresh Thyme Sprigs (one for garnish)

Method:

Muddle fresh thyme in a rocks glass. Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until cold. Fine strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a toasted thyme sprig.

Diane Crump Blackberry Mint Julep 

(blackberry is the official fruit of Kentucky)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1 barspoon Blackberry Preserves
• 1 barspoon Simple Syrup
• Mint Bitters
• Fresh Blackberries and Mint Sprigs, for garnish
• Crushed Ice

Method:

At the bottom of the julep cup mix 1 bar spoon of blackberry preserves and 1 bar spoon of simple syrup. Add 2 – 4 dashes of mint bitters. Fill two-thirds of cup with crushed ice. Add sipping straw and Woodford Reserve Bourbon. Top off cup with more crushed ice (packed in). Top with fresh blackberries and a sprig of mint to garnish. Put the mint near the straw, so the smell enhances each sip. Enjoy!

Knob Creek® Mint Julep

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Knob Creek® Bourbon
• 2 bunches mint
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 1 splash soda

Method:

Mix sprigs of mint with simple syrup and a splash of soda. Fill highball glass with fine crushed ice and pour in bourbon. Lift out and decorate with two mint leaves. Add powdered sugar over mint to add an optional frosted appearance.

The Perfect Woodford Reserve Mint Julep 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Woodford Reserve
• 1 oz. Water
• 1 tsp. Sugar
• Crushed Ice
• 4 sprigs Fresh Mint

Method:

Express the essential oils in the mint and rub them inside the glass or copper cup. To the same glass, add sugar, water, bourbon and crushed ice. Stir. Garnish with more crushed ice and fresh mint.

Woodford Spire

Ingredients:

• 5 parts Woodford Reserve
• 2 parts Lemonade
• 1 part cranberry juice
• Crushed Ice
• Lemon peel for a lemon twist to garnish

Method:

• In a glass, mix Woodford Reserve, lemonade and Cranberry juice with a bar spoon. Add liquid mixture into a copper cup, add crushed ice to the top of the glass & serve with a lemon twist.

Proper Julep

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
• 1 barspoon .25 oz raw sugar
• 8-10 Mint Leaves
• Crushed Ice

Method:

Lightly muddle ¾ of the mint leaves and sugar into cup. Add Proper No. Twelve Whiskey and crushed ice. Garnish with mint.

Slow & Low Mint Julep

Ingredients:

• 3 oz  Slow & Low Rye Whiskey
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup –  Preferably Demerara
• 10 sprigs of mint (Reserve 1 sprig for garnish)
• Crushed ice
• Copper, steel or aluminum cup

Method:

Muddle whiskey and mint in a mix glass. Add 1 large cube of ice.  Next, stir but not so much as to dilute. Add liberal amounts of crushed ice to more than fill the tin cup. Fine strain contents of mix into a glass over crushed ice. Garnish with 6 mint leaves.

The Finlandia Oaks Lily

The Official Drink of the Kentucky Oaks

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ oz. Finlandia Classic Vodka
• 1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
• ¼ oz. Triple Sec
• 3 oz. Cranberry Juice

Method:

Combine ingredients over crushed ice in an Official Oaks Lily souvenir glass. Garnish with a fresh blackberry and lemon peel.

D’usse Mint Julep 

Ingredients:

• 2½ parts D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac
• ½ part simple syrup
• 2– 4 sprigs of mint
• Crushed ice

Method:

Place simple syrup in a julepglass with 5 or 6 mint leaves and muddle. Fill the glass halfway with ice, add1½ parts D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac and stir. Add more ice and remaining D’USSÉ. Stir again until theglass is fully frosted. Top with ice and garnish with fresh mint.

Sweet Victory

 by Nick Fogel, Beverage Director, The Late Late Bar & Spirit Grocer

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
• .75 oz Lillet Blanc
• .75 oz Lavender Syrup *
• Top with Sparkling Wine
• Garnish Lavender Branch

Directions for Lavender Syrup:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Water 
• 2 cups White Sugar 
• 3 Lemon Twists 
• 3 tsp Loose Cooking Lavender 

Combine in a sauce pan and simmer for 10 min. Allow to cool then strain into a glass bottle.

Method:

Add all ingredients except for sparkling wine into a cocktail shaker.  Shake vigorously for 20 seconds and strain into coupe glass. Top with sparkling wine, and garnish with lavender branch.

Photos: Courtesy

Nooku Julep

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Nooku Bourbon Cream
• 0.5 oz. White Crème De Menthe
• 5 Dashes Angostura Bitters

Method:

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.  Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.  Strain into a cocktail glass filled with crushed ice.  Garnish with a sprig of mint.