Most often held on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby has been taking place for over 145 years. Dubbed "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports," the horses run just over a mile in that time. However, there's no need to enjoy Kentucky Derby drinks in that window. You can make it your derby cocktails an all-day, or all weekend, affair.
Kentucky Derby Drinks for Julep Lovers
Put on your spring attire and a statement hat and get ready to celebrate the derby with a julep drink in hand. Whether it's the derby classic mint julep or something a little more adventurous, these julep-style drinks will be highlight of any Kentucky Derby party.
Mint Julep
The star of the Kentucky Derby drinks, the classic mint julep, needs no introduction.
Ingredients
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig and powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- In a julep cup or rocks glass, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add bourbon and crushed ice.
- Stir to frost glass.
- Garnish with mint sprig and sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Thyme Julep
Step away from the mint and enjoy an earthy spin on the julep.
Ingredients
- 3-4 fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 ounces bourbon or rye
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- Thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle thyme sprigs with simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice and bourbon or rye.
- Stir to frost cup.
- Garnish with thyme sprig.
Strawberry Julep
Add a summery and refreshing spin to your juleps with a bit of strawberry flavor.
Ingredients
- 4-7 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce strawberry liqueur
- ½ ounces simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Mint sprig and strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add ice, bourbon, and strawberry liqueur.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with mint sprig and strawberry.
Champagne Julep
This is the julep for those who want all Champagne all of the time.
Ingredients
- 6-7 fresh mint leaves
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- 4 ounces Champagne
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Top off with Champagne.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Cognac Julep
A smooth yet complex spin on the mint julep, it's a cocktail that allows Cognac to shine.
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces Cognac
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice and cognac.
- Stir to frost glass.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Old-Fashioned Mint Julep
There's nothing worse than not being able to decide between two drinks, enter the child of the old-fashioned and the mint julep.
Ingredients
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 3-4 dashes aromatic bitters
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle mint leaves with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice, bourbon, orange bitters, aromatic bitters, and remaining simple syrup.
- Stir to frost glass.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Thin Mint Julep
A tasty chocolate mint cookie meets a classic cocktail; sometimes, life is great.
Ingredients
- 7-9 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce white crème de cacao
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice, bourbon, white crème de cacao, and remaining simple syrup.
- Stir to frost mug.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Berry Julep
Can't decide on a flavor? Pack all of them into this tall mint julep.
Ingredients
- 5-7 fresh mint leaves
- ¼ cup fresh berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Frese berries and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, muddle mint leaves, berries, and simple syrup.
- Add ice and bourbon.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with fresh berries and mint sprig.
Bourbon-Based Derby Cocktails
Bourbon is America's native spirit, and no place has a prouder tradition of making fine bourbons than the state of Kentucky. So grab your favorite Kentucky bourbon to make some mighty fine derby drinks.
Brown Derby
This sweet yet citrus bourbon drink will turn heads when you skip past the mint julep.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce honey
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Bourbon Iced Tea
What's more southern than sweet tea? When you add a little bourbon to it. Go ahead and skip the simple syrup and use genuine sweet tea for an authentic touch.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce limoncello
- Ice
- Iced tea to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, bourbon, simple syrup, and limoncello.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with iced tea.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Woodford Spire
A boozy bourbon Kentucky Derby staple, it's a well-balanced cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Woodford Reserve bourbon
- 2 ounces lemonade
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
- Lemon slice and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, bourbon, cranberry juice, and lemonade.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon slice and mint sprig.
Whiskey Smash
This citrus bourbon-forward cocktail is perfect for those who already love the mint julep.
Ingredients
- 2-3 lemon wedges
- 1-3 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Mint sprig and lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle lemon wedges with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, mint leaves, bourbon, and remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with mint sprig and lemon slice.
Bourbon Rickey
With bourbon being the go-to spirit of the Kentucky Derby, this highball is the perfect drink.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, bourbon, and lime juice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lime slice.
Gold Rush
This sweet golden bourbon cocktail pairs well with any champion horse.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce honey simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, honey simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Kentucky Mule
Give your mint julep some bubbles with this close cousin.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce mint simple syrup
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug or rocks glass, add ice, bourbon, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Derby Drinks Without Bourbon
No bourbon? No problem! Try these derby cocktails made with other spirits.
Peach Sangria
Enjoy the flavor of sweet peaches in a tasty sangria while you don your best hat.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pinot grigio
- 1 ounce peach liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Peach slice and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pinot grigio, peach liqueur, lemon juice, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks or wine glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with peach slice and mint sprig.
Bee's Knees
Although this drink diverges and focuses on gin, its golden color is perfect for any derby party.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lemon juice, and honey.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Amalfi Spritz
A cousin of the popular Aperol spritz, it's a divine drink for sipping during the derby.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces prosecco
- 2 ounces Aperol
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, prosecco, Aperol, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Southern Sweet Tea Jam
Add a little, or a lot, of fruity flavor to a jammy sweet tea cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2-3 fresh strawberries
- 2 ounces strawberry vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Sweet tea to top off
- Strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle strawberries with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Pour into highball glass.
- Top off with sweet tea.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with strawberry.
Moscow Mule
If you're a classic Moscow mule type of person because you and bourbon aren't the best friends, this recipe is your answer.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Crushed ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug or rocks glass, add crushed ice, vodka, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
The Fastest Two Minutes in Drinks
It doesn't matter if you're hosting or attending a derby party; even if you're sitting on your couch, it's an extravagant worth enjoying to the fullest. So keep the party going before and after the fastest two minutes in sports with flavorful, festive Kentucky Derby cocktails.
