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 [4]
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 [5]
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 [4]
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 [6]
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 [7]
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 [8]
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 [6]
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: [9]
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 [10]
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 [9]
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