The 151st Kentucky Derby returns to Churchill Downs on Friday, May 3rd, which pairs perfectly with Cinco de Mayo on Monday, May 5th! Whisky Pete Wagner from Brown Forman stopped into the Mixology studio to show you how to create the perfect cocktails for each occasion!
First comes the Woodford Spire, which is one of the three official drinks of the Kentucky Derby – made of course with Woodford Reserve Bourbon! This drink is named after the twin spires atop Churchill Downs, and features fresh lemonade and cranberry juice!
Next comes another Derby drink in the Filly Mint Julep, which Pete uses THREE different mint leaves to create – chocolate, spearmint and peppermint (slapped of course, never crushed!). This uses the very first bottled bourbon in the United States – Old Forester.
Pete breaks out a new cocktail for Cinco de Mayo with the Tequila Spritzer. Made with Jimador tequila and produce – he chose pineapple, grapefruit juice and rosemary – this cocktail tastes like a homemade seltzer!
Finally, it’s not Cinco de Mayo without a margarita, so he shows you how to make the Herradura Horseshoe Margarita, made with aged, Herradura Silver tequila!
Woodford Reserve Spire
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon®
- 2 oz. Lemonade
- 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
- Lemon Twist
Preparation: Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon twist
The Filly Mint Julep:
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Old Forester
- One barspoon of hand-crafted simple syrup
- 1 sprig of chocolate mint
- 1 sprig of peppermint
- 1 sprig of spearmint
Preparation: Mix bourbon and simple syrup in the bottom of a julep cup, then fill with crushed ice. Garnish with three sprigs of mint.
Tequila Spritzer
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz tequila
- 3.5 oz pineapple
- 5 oz grapefruit juice
- 6.75 oz soda water
- 3 sprigs rosemary
Preparation: Put the pineapple chunks, rosemary and tequila in the cocktail shaker and muddle together for 30 seconds so the tequila and pineapple juice mix and the rosemary sprigs infuse with them. Add the grapefruit juice and fill the shaker with as much ice as you can fit in before shaking. Strain the grapefruit rosemary cocktail with tequila into a lowball glass with a couple of ice cubes in it. Top it up with soda and slide the rosemary garnish down the side.
Herradura Horseshoe Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz Herradura Silver
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz agave nectar
- Garnish with a lime wheel
Preparation: Combine all ingredients and shake with ice to chill. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a half-salt rim and lime.