Three Cocktail Recipes for Derby Day

By Gayot Editors

Since we can’t all go to Louisville, KY, for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, let’s celebrate this 2.0 km (one and a quarter miles) race for three-year-old thoroughbreds with these cocktails,

INGREDIENTS:
2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. kaffir lime juice
2 basil leaves
10 mint leaves
½ teaspoon Thai spice (see below)
1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar
– Thai spice blend: a dash of each: lemon powder, sea salt, chili powder, ground ginger, mustard seed, clove

METHOD:
• For the Thai spice: Grind spices for 20 seconds in a coffee/spice grinder
• Shake all ingredients furiously over ice in a cocktail shaker and strain over crushed ice in Julep Cup
• Top with whole chilis and fresh mint or basil and lime

Bartender’s tip: Standard ice cubes can be pounded in a cloth bag with a hammer or use a crushed ice machine.

> This cocktail is brought to you by Aidan Demarest, Director of Nightlife at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

Photo © Cocktail Kingdom

INGREDIENTS:
– the juice of 2 oranges
4 oz. of raspberry syrup
4 oz. of Maraschino
4 oz. of gin
¼ bottle sparkling wine
1 ripe pineapple, peeled and sliced small and cut up
– shaved ice
– berries in season

METHOD:
• Put all the ingredients in a glass bowl with shaved ice.
• Serve in Cocktail Kingdom’s Julep Cup (BUY NOW!), ornamented with berries in season.

Recipe from the 1912 Hoffman House Bartender’s Guide by Charley Mahoney (p. 217)

RELATED: The Best Gins from Around the Globe

INGREDIENTS:
2 oz. Earthen
1 oz. simple syrup
8-10 mint leaves
– ice

METHOD:
• Add all ingredients to a shaker and muddle for 1 minute.
• Pour over crushed ice.
• Add fresh mint for garnish.


> This cocktail is brought to you by Wilderton, a portfolio of non-alcoholic, zero calorie and gluten-free botanical spirits.