2014 Kentucky Derby Cocktails

By Adam Rains

Here’s a great collection of cocktails that are perfect for Kentucky Derby (May 2-3) celebrations and spring mixes in general! These cocktails are full of wonderful seasonal flavors with unique twists including blackberry, rhubarb tea with blood orange, whiskey with peach bitters, and lots of mint!

BlackberryMintJulep

Blackberry Mint Julep Margarita

2 parts Milagro Anejo
1 part Lime Juice
1 part Honey Syrup
5 Blackberries
6 Mint Leaves

Muddle berries and mint. Add rest, shake and strain over ice in julep glass. Garnish with blackberries and mint sprig.

Tip from Gaston Martinez, Milagro Tequila Ambassador: Substituting the bourbon for Anejo tequila makes sense since we mature this tequila in used bourbon casks. The cask is a huge source of the flavor found in both spirits and will have many similarities. Salud!!!

SpringReviver

Spring Reviver

1 oz. Rhubarb Tea
1 oz. Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
1 oz. Lillet Rosé
.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
3 dashes Absinthe

Glass: coupe
Garnish: strawberry slice and mint sprig or edible flower

Shake ingredients with ice and fine strain into a chilled coupe glass, garnish with a strawberry slice and a mint sprig or an edible flower.

Dewlep

The Tullamore Dewlep

2 oz Tullamore D.E.W. Original
½ oz white vanilla sugar syrup
Dash peach bitters
12 mint leaves

Pour all ingredients into a cup. Gently muddle mint, fill with crushed ice and stir gently to combine garnish with a sprig of mint and straw (Requires use of Julep cup for maximum impact)

Kentucky and Ireland have a great deal in common. They both produce fine fiddlers, fine horses and fine whiskey. And, while musicians trade tunes and breeders trade horses, whiskey aficionados trade recipes – like this Irish twist on a Southern classic. – Tullamore D.E.W National Brand Ambassador, Tim Herlihy

MajorBailey

Major Bailey

by Jon Santer

2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
1 Sugar cube
¼ oz simple
8 Leaves Mint

Muddle in julep glass. Top with crushed ice until a mountain peak of ice forms above the glass. Garnish with copious amounts of mint and a cucumber spear.

FortJulep

Fort Julep

by Joaquin Simo, Pouring Ribbons

2 oz Lillet Rosé
1/2 oz Green Chartreuse

Glass: Julep (silver or pewter is traditional, but a steel cup will do nicely and a plain ole rocks glass works in a pinch)
Ice: Crushed
Garnish: Mint, lightly spanked before inserting.

Rub 2-3 mint leaves inside of julep cup, then discard leaves. Add Chartreuse & Lillet Rosé, fill midway with crushed ice, swizzle or stir to agitate and incorporate, then add more Crushed Ice. Top with spanked mint sprigs.

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