Giddy-Up: The Best Cocktails For Your Kentucky Derby Party

Photo: SolStock (Getty Images)

The Kentucky Derby is extremely exciting. The problem is the whole race only lasts for a few minutes. That’s why the key to any Kentucky Derby party is to enjoy food and drinks before the race…and after. Otherwise, your window for enjoying bourbon and Hot Browns would literally only be for about 2 minutes.

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You can go the usual route and mix up traditional mint juleps with bourbon, sugar, soda water, crushed ice, and mint leaves. Everyone at your party will be pretty happy with that. But you wouldn’t want your guests getting sick of the iconic Bluegrass State drink (as if you could). That’s why it’s smart to offer different Kentucky Derby-themed cocktails. Scroll on to get your drink on.

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Kentucky Derby Cocktails

Bourbon Thyme Julep

Ingredients:

2 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
1 bar spoon simple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
6 fresh thyme sprigs (one for garnish)

Directions:

Muddle fresh thyme in a rocks glass. Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until cold. Fine strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a toasted thyme sprig.

Recipe by Frank Liotti (New York, NY)

Photo: Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
Ken-Tiki Derby Julep

Ingredients:

2 ounces G.H. Mumm Champagne
1 1/2 ounces Jameson Black Barrel
1/4 ounce pineapple syrup
1/2 ounce lime juice
4-5 mint leaves

Directions:

In a highball glass, combine mint, pineapple syrup, and lime juice. Gently muddle the ingredients and add in the Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey. Top with crushed ice and light stir to combine to ingredients. Top with G.H. Mumm and add in more crushed ice. Dash 2-3 of Angostura bitters on top, and garnish with pineapple leaves and mint.

Recipe by G.H. Mumm Champagne

Photo: G.H. Mumm Champagne
Bourbon Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces bourbon
¼ ounce peach schnapps
2 ounces peach nectar
1 ounce unsweetened iced tea
1 dash peach bitters
Peach slice garnish

Recipe by Churchill Downs

Photo: Churchill Downs
Cinco de Derby

Ingredients:

2 ounces G.H. Mumm Champagne
1 1/2 ounces Avion Blanco Tequila
1/2 ounce blackberry cinnamon syrup
1/2 ounce lime juice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake to chill and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with G.H. Mumm and garnish with fresh mint, lime, and fresh grated cinnamon.

Recipe by G.H. Mumm Champagne

Photo: G.H. Mumm Champagne
Kentucky Mule

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces bourbon
3 ounces ginger beer
Squeeze one lime wedge
Lime wedge for garnish

Recipe by Churchill Downs

Photo: Churchill Downs
Sicilian Julep

Ingredients:

2 ounces Makers 46
3/4 ounce pistachio syrup
Handful mint leaves
Fresh bunch of spring mint
Powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients together with a swizzle. Add pebble ice. Shake and pour into a copper julep tin and serve with a classic julep straw.

Recipe by Here and Now in Los Angeles

Photo: Here and Now
Triple Crown

Ingredients:

2 ounces Buffalo Trace Bourbon
5 ounces Ambros Banana Whiskey
1/2 ounce Barbados rum
1/2 ounce cherry herring
1/4 ounce lemon
1/4 ounce simple
1 ounce pineapple juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Directions:

Shake and pour into a rocks glass with crushed ice and top with mint.

Recipe by Tanner Weston, Lead Bartender at Sorra in Hollywood, California

Photo: Sorra
Knob Creek Mint Julep

Ingredients:

1½ parts Knob Creek Bourbon
2 bunches mint
1 part simple syrup
1 splash soda

Directions:

Mix sprigs of mint with simple syrup and a splash of soda. Fill highball glass with fine crushed ice and pour in bourbon. Lift out and decorate with two mint leaves. Add powdered sugar over mint to add an optional frosted appearance.

Recipe by Knob Creek Bourbon

Photo: Knob Creek Bourbon