4 cocktails recipes for the Kentucky Derby

Quickmeme

The Kentucky Derby has little to do with horses and lots to do with hats and booze. How many events do you know that have an official drink? Here are 4 different cocktail recipes to make while you pretend to care this weekend.
Your basic Mint Julep

BasilHadens

The Basil Julep

Ingredients:
2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
1 part simple syrup
5 Mint Leaves
Crushed Ice to fill glass

Method:
1. Muddle mint leaves with simple syrup in a mixing glass
2. Add remaining Basil Hayden’s® and ice and shake.
3. Fill Old Fashioned glass with crushed ice and strain liquid into glass
4. Garnish with Mint Sprig

A dark rum twist

MBooth

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Brugal 1888
1 oz. Bourbon
.25 oz. Demerara Syrup
2 dashes of Aromatic Bitters
2 dashes of Orange Bitters
6 Mint sprigs
.5 oz. Fernet

Method:
In a silver julep mug, place 6 large mint sprigs and .25 oz. of Demerara and press to release the oils from the mint. Add Brugal, bourbon, bitters and fill mug 1/3 with crushed ice. Stir for 60 seconds. Fill additional third of ice and stir until mug is frosted. Pack mug full and garnish with a large sprig of mint. Drizzle Fernet on top.

Cars > Horses

Bulleit

The Ginger Julep ’68 Fastback

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon
.5 oz. Organic Brown Sugar
.25 oz. Peeled Minced Fresh Ginger
1.5 oz. Soda Water
1 Lemon or Lime Twist

The method:
Preparation: Muddle the ginger and brown sugar together until all of the sugar is moistened and nearly dissolved. Add a dash of soda to finish dissolving the sugar, stir in your Bourbon. Finish with ice, soda to taste and a lemon or lime twis

For the fruit lovers

Windsor Court

Derby Julep Cobbler
Created by Ryan Asay, Windsor Court in New Orleans

Ingredients:
2 oz Evan Williams Single Barrel
1 oz Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup
.5 oz lemon juice
2 Cucumber slices
Soda Water

Method:
Muddle simple syrup, lemon juice and cucumber. Add whiskey. Fill Julep cup with crushed ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with strawberry, cucumber and mint.