HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Kentucky Derby Cheers
Celebrate the Kentucky Derby, the longest running sporting event in the country, with a Churchill Downs Cocktail Party that's fit for the queen of races! A full cocktail menu for your Kentucky Derby party and learn some facts on the Kentucky Derby. Serve up some Southern favorites including the official Derby libation, the famed Mint Julep with tasty Baby Hot Browns, and be sure to place your bets before you sip one too many! With these "Run for the Roses" cocktails: Mint Julep, Kentucky B & B, Louisville Cooler, Crown of Roses and Royal Stretch you'll cross the finish line a celebration winner! Find more great cocktail recipes in our Cocktails from Around the World video.
Toast topped with turkey, onion, cheese sauce and crumbled bacon.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken bouillon cube, 1/2 cup
- 1/2 Cup half and half
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 Cup grated Swiss cheese
- 5 strips bacon, cooked, crumbled
- 1 onion, sliced thin
- 6 ounces cooked turkey,
- 18 Slices of party rye or small French bread
- Parsley
Steps
- Dissolve bouillon cube in hot water, add half-and-half.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and add flour. Whisk and cook until mixture is frothy and raw flour taste is gone. While stirring, add the bouillon mixture.
- Stir constantly with a whisk until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble. Add Swiss cheese and stir until smooth. (If sauce needs to be thinned, heat and add a little water).
- Place slices of turkey and onion on each bread slice. Top with sauce and crumbled bacon. Heat at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Bourbon, fresh spearmint and two types of sugar make this the perfect mint julep.
Ingredients
- 4 cups bourbon
- 2 bunches fresh spearmint
- 1 Cup distilled water
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar
Steps
- To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.
- To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.
- To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.
- Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture.
- Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to "marry" the flavors.
- To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup.
- Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep. When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.
Make your own B & B for a dry cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 Oz Bourbon
- 1/2 Oz Benedictine
- Stemware: Brandy Snifter Glass
Steps
- Pour the bourbon and Benedictine into a brandy snifter and stir. Place your bet and serve.
Bourbon, orange juice and a littel sugar are all you need to make this refreshing cocktail, serve in a pretty glass with an orange slice.
Ingredients
- 2 Oz Bourbon
- 1 Oz Orange Juice , 1/2
- 1 Tsp Powered Sugar
- Garnish: Orange Slice
- Stemware: Old-Fashioned Glass
Steps
- Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice cubes and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with an orange slice.
Crown Royal, amaretto, pineapple juice and bitters make this cocktail not too sweet or strong.
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Crown Royal
- 1/2 oz. amaretto
- 1 oz. pineapple juice, 1/4
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry
Steps
- Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full of ice and add all of the ingredients. Shake for approximately 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add garnish.
Crown Royal, grenadine and soda make this classy cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz. Crown Royal
- 3 oz. sparkling water or club soda
- Splash of cherry juice or grenadine
Steps
- The Royal Stretch is a refreshing drink alternative for race day. The blend of Crown Royal paired with brisk sparkling water and a hint of cherry juice is easy to make and satisfying.
- Serve over ice in a collins glass with mint leaf garnish.
Early Time Kentucky Whisky gives a kick to a traditional mint julep.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- Sprigs of fresh mint
- Crushed ice
- Early Times Kentucky Whisky
- Silver Julep Cups
Steps
- Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes.
- Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.
- Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky.
- Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Decorate with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and give each table the name of a prized thoroughbred.
Encourage women to wear fun hats. Make sure the TV and radio are broadcasting the official Kentucky Derby channel of the day. Before or after the race, pop in the movie Seabiscuit to play in the background.
Give all the guests betting sheets as they walk through the door. The losers have to do the dishes!
Bluegrass anyone? Before the trumpets play, share Dan Fogelberg's "Run for the Roses" then kick-it up with the Dixie Chicks and feel like you've escaped to a Bluegrass Country Getaway.
Encourage women to wear fun hats. Make sure the TV and radio are broadcasting the official Kentucky Derby channel of the day. Before or after the race, pop in the movie Seabiscuit to play in the background.
Give all the guests betting sheets as they walk through the door. The losers have to do the dishes!
Bluegrass anyone? Before the trumpets play, share Dan Fogelberg's "Run for the Roses" then kick-it up with the Dixie Chicks and feel like you've escaped to a Bluegrass Country Getaway.
Kentucky Derby:
Traditions
Traditions
Bourbon Tasting
Party
Party
Kentucky Derby
Activities for Kids
Activities for Kids
