Three Cocktail Recipes for Derby Day
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,
1. The Royal Thai Spice Julep
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.
SUGGESTED READING: Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
2. Pineapple Julep, aka ‘The Forgotten Julep’ | For a party of five
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
2. Derby Day | (non-alcoholic)
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.