Talk Derby to Me; Cocktails for the 2023 Kentucky Derby

The 149th Kentucky Derby is this Saturday, May 6th, and we’re ready to talk Derby! To help celebrate the fastest 2-minutes in sports, we’ve gathered a few cocktails to serve your guests at the bar or at home.

Woodford Reserve Spire

1.5 oz. Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2 oz. Lemonade

1 oz. Cranberry Juice

Add ingredients to mixing glass and stir. Pour over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Non-Alcoholic Derby Cocktail

2 oz Earthen

1 oz simple syrup

8-10 mint leaves

Crushed Ice

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

Woodford Reserve Thoroughbred

2 oz Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey

1 Bottle of ginger beer

Add bourbon to collins glass, fill with ginger beer, top with ice and garnish with a lime wheel

Peach Mint Julep

1 oz rye bourbon
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz Peach Shrub*
4 ea. mint leaves
Crushed ice
1 Peach, cored, wedged

In a cocktail shaker, add crushed ice, bourbon, simple syrup, and peach shrub.
Slap your mint leaves to release the oils, and add to the shaker. Lock it up, and give it a good shake.

Place more crushed ice in a cocktail glass and pour the strained drink from the shaker. Finish with fresh mint and a peach slice to garnish. You can alternatively add a little soda water or tonic to freshen it up.

*Shrub – Ingredients
4 medium peaches (about 1 pound) peeled, cored, diced
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup grated fresh ginger
½ cup Carandini Bianca Sweet White Vinegar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

To prepare the Peach Shrub, add sugar and a cup of water to a saucepan. Heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the peaches and simmer until the peaches’ juice blends well into the syrup. Let mixture cool. Strain out the solids. Add Carandini Bianca Sweet White Vinegar to the syrup, bottle it all up, and store in the fridge.

PEPPER JELLY JULEP served at ELVIE’S (Jackson, MS)