It’s Triple Crown Time! While you’ll want to include Mint Juleps as a must-have at your horse racing parties, don’t forget about some of these other delicious cocktails featured at popular races and venues.
Oaks Lily
The Oaks Lily is the official cocktail of the Kentucky Oaks – the filly (young, female horse) races held the day before the Kentucky Derby. The winner of the Oaks receives – in addition to $750,000 – a large garland of lilies affectionately called “Lilies for the Fillies”.
1¼ oz Finlandia Vodka
1 oz sweet and sour mix
¼ oz triple sec
3 oz cranberry juice
Once the ingredients are mixed, place the pinkish cocktail in a stemless wine glass with crushed ice. Add a straw and garnish with a blackberry and a lemon wedge.
Recipe courtesy of the Kentucky Derby.
Black Eyed Susan
The Black Eyed Susan is the official cocktail of the Preakness Stakes. The Preakness is the second of the races that horses need to win in order to be a Triple Crown winner. It’s a 1 3⁄16 mile (9.5 furlongs) long race that takes place every year in Baltimore, Maryland on the third Saturday in May.
1 part Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 part DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps Liqueur
1 part Effen Vodka
2 parts orange juice
2 parts sour mix
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain over crushed ice in a tall glass. Garnish with an orange and cherry. Recipe courtesy of The Spruce Eats.
Belmont Jewel
Belmont Stakes’s official cocktail is the Belmont Jewel. The Belmont Stakes is a 1½ mile (12 furlongs) long race – the longest distance of the Triple Crown.
1½ oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
2 oz lemonade
1 oz pomegranate juice
Orange zest
Shake vigorously with ice and serve in a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist. Recipe courtesy of Belmont Stakes.
Woodford Reserve Spire – Official Cocktail of Churchill Downs
We already did a whole post about the official drink of the Kentucky Derby – the Mint Julep. So we thought it would be a good time to show some love to the official drink of Churchill Downs – home of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
1½ oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
2 oz lemonade
1 oz cranberry juice
Lemon twist
Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon twist. Recipe courtesy of Woodford Reserve.