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    Derby weekend is the time of fancy hats, bow ties, celebration and tradition - one of the most infamous being the mint julep. While we all say we like the classic Derby cocktail, we know that it's not true for all of his. If you're not in the mint julep camp, there are a lot of delicious drinks for you to mix up, instead - even for non-bourbon lovers. Check out these ten cocktail recipes, collected from our favorite distilleries.

     

    Manhattan

    Ingredients:
    2 oz. Angel’s Envy
    0.5 oz. sweet vermouth
    Angostura bitters to taste (2 to 3 dashes)
    Maraschino cherry

    Tools:
    Mixing glass
    Strainer
    Cocktail glass

    Instructions:
    Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes.
    Stir well.
    Strain into the chilled cocktail glass.
    Garnish with a cherry.

     

    Frontier Old Fashioned

    Ingredients:
    1 oz. Bulleit® Bourbon

    0.25 oz. bitters
    1 teaspoon sugar
    1 splash water
    1 lemon slice
    1 maraschino cherry
    1 orange slice

    Tools:
    Muddler
    Rocks glass

    Instructions:
    In a rocks glass, muddle sugar and bitters.

    Add the bourbon and a large ice cube.
    Twist slices of lemon and orange peel over the drink and drop slices in.


    Sazerac

    Ingredients:
    3 oz. Angel’s Envy
    0.75 oz. simple syrup
    Peychaud bitters to taste
    Absinthe or substitute (Herbsaint, Pernod or Ricard)
    lemon twist

    Tools:
    Mixing glass
    Muddler
    Strainer
    Old-fashioned glass

    Instructions:
    Chill the old fashioned glass by filling it with ice and letting it sit during the preparation stages.
    Muddle the bitters together with the simple syrup in the mixing glass.
    Add the rye whiskey and ice to the syrup/bitters blend and stir.
    Discard the ice from the old-fashioned glass and rinse the glass with a swirl of absinthe.
    Strain the whiskey mix from the mixing glass into the old-fashioned glass.
    Garnish by squeezing the lemon twist over the cocktail to release its essences.
     

    Kentucky Mule

    Ingredients:
    2 oz. Angel’s Envy
    1.5 oz. Ginger Beer
    0.75 oz. Lime Juice
    1 oz. Simple Syrup

    Tools:
    Shaker
    HIghball Glass

    Instructions:
    Shake, strain.
    Serve in a highball glass with a ginger candy garnish.

     

    Brown Derby

    Ingredients:
    2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
    1 part fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
    0.25 part honey syrup*
    2 parts honey
    1 part water

    Tools:
    Muddler
    Coupe Glass

    Instructions:
    *For honey syrup, add 2 parts honey to 1 part water. Mix until fully blended.
    Shake all ingredients together and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

     

    Strawberry Julep

    Ingredients:
    2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
    2 fresh strawberries
    1 part simple syrup
    6 mint leaves
    1 part fresh lemon juice

    Tools: 
    Muddler
    Shaker
    Martini Glass

    Instructions:
    Muddle strawberries, mint leaves and simple syrup in mixing glass.
    Add Maker’s Mark Bourbon and lemon juice and fill with ice.
    Shake well and double strain into a martini glass.
     

    Seelbach

    Ingredients:
    1.5 oz. Angel’s Envy
    0.5 oz. Combier Orange
    7 dashes Angostura Bitters
    7 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
    4 oz. Champagne

    Tools:
    Muddler
    Strainer
    Flute glass

    Instructions:
    Stir ingredients together.
    Strain into a flute.
    Top with Champagne.
    Give everything a light stir and garnish with an orange twist.

     

     

    Not a fan of bourbon? Don't worry, here are a few options for those who don't like the burn of whiskey.

     

    Horse’s Neck: 

    Ingredients:
    1.5 oz. Copper & Kings Craft Distilled Brandy
    4 oz. Ginger beer
    1 dash Angostura Bitters
    Lemon

    Tools: 
    Peeler
    Jigger
    Highball Glass

    Instructions:
    Combine brandy and ginger beer in highball glass.
    Add ice.
    Garnish with generously long lemon peel.
    Add dash of bitters on top
     

    Rivulet Kentucky Pie

    Ingredients:
    1 part Rivulet Liqueur
    0.5 part Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
    Splash Vanilla Vodka

    Tools:
    Rocks glass or Martini Glass
    Shaker

    Instructions:
    Rocks. Combine ingredients and serve over ice in rocks glass.
    Martini. Combine ingredients in shaker tin with ice, shake and serve straight up in martini glass.

     

    Brandy Mule

    Ingredients:
    2 oz. Copper & Kings Immature Brandy
    .5 oz. Lime juice
    4 oz. Ginger beer
    Lime wedge, garnish

    Tools:
    Jigger
    Highball glass

    Instructions:
    Combine all ingredients in highball glass.
    Add ice.
    Garnish with lime wedge.


     

    Photo: Shutterstock/Kondor83

     

    Michelle Eigenheer's picture

    About Michelle Eigenheer

    A Louisville transplant beginning to appreciate all the city's small things.

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