Cocktails to Celebrate the Kentucky Derby – May 5, 2018

Kentucky Derby Cocktails

We’ve had Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’ playing on a loop. All. Week. Long. Why do you ask? We’re excited about the Kentucky Derby; a new champion will be crowned this Saturday, May 5th!

Referred to as the most prestigious horse race in the world; the derby has been conducted at the most famous racetrack, Churchill Downs, continually since 1875. A crowd of 155,000 roars with jubilation as jockeys from around the world and their thoroughbred steeds emerge victoriously. They are lauded with the victor’s traditional Garland of Roses, and bring home a whopping 2 million dollars winning purse!

Called the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, this high action race is cause to celebrate! So we’ve put together some Kentucky Derby inspired cocktail recipes, so you can do just that. The recipes all take their name from some of the most famous thoroughbred horses ever to have competed.

You’ll love these cocktails—especially if you’re a fan of Kentucky Bourbon.

Magnum Moon Iced Tea

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Water
  • ½ cup Agave
  • 1 cup Bourbon
  • 3 Earl Gray tea bags
  • 1 teaspoon Bitters
  • 2 sprigs of Thyme
  • Lemon slice for garnish

Instructions

1: To make the tea: Combine the water, thyme, and agave in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring periodically. Pour the mixture into a jar, add the tea bags, and let steep for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. If you prefer stronger tea, then let it steep longer.
2. Remove the tea bags and add bourbon. Cover the jar and chill.
3. Sugar the edge of your favorite rocks glass over ice and a lemon slice, garnish with a sprig of thyme.

Justify B&B

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Pour the bourbon and Benedictine into a brandy snifter and stir.

Mendelssohn Sage and Honey Champagne

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Champagne
  • ¼ oz Sage Infused Honey Syrup*
  • 5 Mint leaves, plus more for garnish
  • 3-4 Lavender buds, plus more for garnish
  • 5 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Crushed Ice

Instructions

*To make the sage-infused honey syrup: Add three cups of honey to one cup of hot water and stir until the honey dissolves. Add 6 ripped sage leaves into the honey and stir and let it sit for 2 hours.

To make the cocktail:
Add the mint, lavender, champagne and honey syrup into a shaker and muddle. Strain into the glassware of your choice. Top with a mountain of crushed ice and add the angostura bitters on top of the ice. Garnish with mint leaves and lavender sprig.

The Audible

Ingredients

  • 1½ oz Kentucky Bourbon
  • ¾ oz Pineapple juice
  • Maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. Shake both ingredients together with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a cherry and serve.

Bolt d’Oro Tangerine Sidecar

Ingredients

  • 2 oz fresh Tangerine juice
  • ½ oz fresh Lemon juice
  • 1 oz Kentucky Bourbon
  • ½ oz Simple syrup
  • Dash of Orange bitters
  • Sugar to rim glass

Instructions

  1. Rub the rim of a chilled cocktail glass with a tangerine wedge & sugar the rim.
  2. Put all ingredients (tangerine juice, lemon juice, bourbon, simple syrup, and orange bitters) into a cocktail shaker with ice, then shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
  3. Strain into your cocktail glass. Garnish by zesting a tangerine over the glass, serve and enjoy!

We hope you enjoy mixing up these tasty drinks! Remember if you get stuck while choosing the right ingredients, the helpful staff at your local Spec’s can give you the most outstanding recommendations.

Cheers!