Saturday May 4th will be the 139th running of the Kentucky
Derby at Churchill Downs. The "most famous two minutes in sport" unites classic fashion
style, 19th century cocktails, gambling, and an age-old sport of kings in a
quintessentially American event. The fellows suited up in seersucker, ladies in
elegant straw hats, bourbon mint juleps in icy tins, and wagers on a long
shot to win are a tradition. For loungers, it is a friggin' national holiday and expect us to be celebrating in full regalia, julep chalice in hand, at our favorite
watering holes!
This Derby Day we recommend the grand daddy of mint
julep variations adapted by historian David Wondrich from a recipe in an 1857 edition of Harper's Weekly and trifecta of authentic Derby viewing parties in New York City for the win!
Prescription Julep
1 1/2 oz of Cognac (VSOP or better)
1/2 oz Rye Whisky
1/4 oz of rich simple syrup
8-10 mint leaves
Tools: Julep chalice, jigger, bar spoon
Gently rub the mint leaves on the inside of the julep tin
and discard. Add cognac, rye and rich simple and stir mixture gently. Fill cup
with crushed ice and garnish with mint sprigs. Insert sterling silver straw in
between mint sprigs.
Maison Premiere - 2nd Annual Derby Party featuring Four
Roses Bourbon
12pm-8pm
Julep master Maxwell Britten and his crew of dapper drink
slingers will be throwing one hell of a pre-race BBQ in Maison Premiere's
backyard. Icy platters of oysters will be plentiful and an extensive menu of
mint juleps served in silver beaded tins will be available. The Maison Premiere
House Band starts at 3pm and goes to 7pm. This year there will be a fashion contest
for the most Derby outfit. Prizes range from booze (hurrah!) to $100 gift
certificates! The Derby will also be broadcast live on the cocktail den’s
famous old-fashioned radio from 6:28 to 6:30.
Maison
Premiere - 298 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn -
347-335-0446
Clover Club - 4th Annual Kentucky Derby Party featuring
Bulleit Bourbon
4:30pm-8pm
Bulleit Bourbon will provide complementary passed hors d'
oeuvres and mint juleps. Mixtresses Elayne Duke and Julie Reiner set up shop in
the front of Clover Club with their julep bar again this year. They encourage
guests to sport fancy hats, seersucker suits, and crank out juleps for all. Oh
yeah, there will be a very short horse race shown;) Don't miss it!
Clover Club -
210 Smith Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn - 718-855-7939
Rum House - Derby Day Party featuring Larceny bourbon specials
5pm-7pm
The gang at Rum House breaks out the julep cups, crushed
ice, and copious amounts of mint and partner with Heaven Hill Distilleries' new Larceny Bourbon for $8 Julep and Old Fashioned drink
specials. Come watch the race live on the big screen with Larceny bourbon cocktails. There will be food. There will be fancy hats. And
there will be ponies.
The Rum House at
the Edison Hotel - 228 West 47th Street, New York, NY - 646-490-6924
Our trifecta picks for the 139th Kentucky Derby are All
Other Three Ye (5:1) to win, Verrazano (6:1) to place, and Goldencents (7:1) to
show!
