The Greatest Two Minutes in Spirits: Your Kentucky Derby Cocktail Guide

The official drink of the Kentucky Derby and for good reason. Cold, minty, and built for a silver Julep Cup, this one anchors every Derby Day spread. We make ours with our Distiller’s Reserve Bourbon, a small-batch release with the depth to hold its own against plenty of crushed or pebble ice. Before you garnish your Julep with a mint sprig, slap the mint several times against the back of your hand to "wake it up" and release essential oils and intensify the aroma. For an appetizer pairing, you can't go wrong with Southern Deviled Eggs: the creamy richness of the filling topped with crispy bacon provides a savory counterpoint to the bright, herbal notes of the mint. (PRO TIP: Most Sonic Drive-Ins sell the perfect pebble ice by the bag--call ahead to confirm before your Derby Party.)

The Mule has been a Churchill Downs fixture since the Mint Julep cups ran out. By combining our small-batch Distiller's Reserve Bourbon with the spicy, bright notes of New Deal Ginger Liqueur, you get a deeper, more complex ginger kick than soda alone can provide. Our version is gingery, lightly sweet, and deeply refreshing — perfect for the hours of pre-race analysis before the main event. Grab some copper mule mugs to ensure frostbite-cold temps and build each Mule right in the mug. It's the perfect, easy-breezy welcome cocktail for your Derby Watch Party. Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders, with their chile-oil fried chicken, cole slaw, and tangy pickle relish, play off the ginger’s spice, while the bubbly soda water and lime juice in the drinks act as a palate cleanser for the fried chicken’s richness.

Churchill Downs has served the Old Fashioned as a Derby staple for decades. May is the peak of spring, and nothing says the season like fresh berries. This version features our small-batch Apple Brandy and adds house-made strawberry syrup for a seasonal twist that’s just as spirit-forward but a little more spring-ready. The homemade strawberry syrup highlights the caramel-apple notes in our Distiller's Workshop Apple Brandy. It’s sophisticated, colorful, and perfectly suited for a garden party. Pair with smoked pimento cheese on rye toast: The sweetness of the strawberry syrup and the fruit-forward nature of the apple brandy base crave something salty and sharp. The tang of pimento cheese on a hearty rye cracker creates a sweet-and-savory harmony that feels very sophisticated.

Think of the Whiskey Smash as a Mint Julep that went to bartending school. If the Julep feels too formal, the Whiskey Smash is its laid-back, citrusy cousin. This one’s been poured at Churchill Downs for over a century, though it never gets quite the attention it deserves. You get the same mint-and-bourbon energy, but with muddled lemon wedges shaken in for a bright citrus lift that makes it feel more cocktail-forward. For a true Churchill Downs experience, serve your Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders alongside any of the bourbon drinks. These mini, hand-held versions of the famous open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich are baked in a pan on sweet Hawaiian rolls. The rich, cheesy Mornay sauce is the ultimate base for a long afternoon of craft cocktails!

Celebrate the Derby with a Northwest twist! Combine our Distiller's Workshop Oregon Brandy with Ginger Liqueur and a splash of bubbles, and you've got something lighter and fruitier than the traditional vodka and ginger beer recipe. This Mule variation has a distinct floral, vineyard-fruit profile. Serve this to guests who want a break from bourbon without sacrificing a single bit of character. For an appetizer pairing, try smoked salmon blinis with crème fraîche and lemon zest. The lighter, fruitier profile of the brandy mule points toward something a little more delicate. Smoked salmon on buckwheat blinis, with a squeeze of lemon, mirrors the drink's lemon garnish and makes for an elegant, Pacific Northwest-tinged bite that feels at home alongside Oregon brandy.

Not everyone at your party wants bourbon, and they shouldn’t have to settle. A Better Buck combines our Pear Brandy, Ginger Liqueur, and a touch of Amontillado sherry for something bubbly, complex, and completely crowd-pleasing. It’s got the same festive energy as a Mint Julep but reads more like a warm-weather garden party than the winner’s circle, in the best possible way. This is a very food-friendly cocktail, so why not anchor your watch party table with a Derby Charcuterie Board with iconic Southern options? You'll want to include Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Ham, hand-crafted in Tennessee with a flavor profile similar to Italian prosciutto or Spanish Jamón, aged Gouda, pickled okra, candied pecans, dried apricots and honeycomb.

Here’s a piece of cocktail history worth knowing: before bourbon became the Derby’s spirit of choice, brandy was the julep base. Our Oregon Brandy brings bright fruit and a gentle warmth, making for a genuinely refreshing drink on a warm Spring afternoon. Serve it in a julep cup packed with pebble ice for full effect. Pair your Brandy Juleps with a genuine Churchill Downs tradition: Benedictine crostini or finger sandwiches. Benedictine is an iconic Louisville cucumber-and-cream-cheese spread invented in the early 20th century by a local caterer, Jennie Benedict. Since our Distiller’s Workshop Brandy has a softer, more floral profile than bourbon, it pairs beautifully with the light, vegetal crunch of cucumber and the silkiness of the cream cheese.