We all know that the official, real deal drink of the Derby is the Mint Julep. Any suggestion otherwise borders on blasphemy within the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and is most likely met with reluctance elsewhere. Realizing full well that not everyone digs bourbon-based drinks, here are a few alternative cocktail recipes for your consideration…. aaaaaand some bourbon based variations. (Also check out the recently-published Grandstand Julep recipe.)

Affirmed Windsor
1.5 oz. Oolong tea-infused Bushmills Original
1 oz. Noilly Prat dry vermouth
1 oz. Amaro Meletti
2 dashes Scrappy’s orange bitters
expressed lemon

Add first 4 ingredients to a mixing glass, stir with ice for 15 seconds, strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Express lemon oil from peel over cocktail, rim glass with lemon and drop in.

Silver Cucumber Gimlet
1.25 oz. Nolet’s Silver Dry gin
0.75 oz. fresh lime juice
0.5 oz. simple syrup
dash celery bitters
cucumber and basil (for garnish)

In a mixing glass, muddle cucumber and basil with syrup and lime juice. Add Nolet’s Silver, celery bitters, and ice. Shake well and serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with a long slice of cucumber and fresh basil leaf.

All The King’s Horses
0.5 oz. Grey Goose Le Melon
1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. St. Germain
1 jalapeno

Muddle one slice jalapeno in a shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice and top with soda and jalapeno garnish.

Aperol Spritz
3 parts Cinzano Prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 dash Soda
ice and a slice of Orange

Add ice and a slice of orange, pour in the Prosecco, the Aperol and add a dash of soda. This avoids the Aperol settling at the bottom.

Silver Cup
1.75 oz Tincup Whiskey
0.5 oz Lustau Pedro Ximénez sherry
0.25 oz Peach Street Distillers peach brandy
8 mint leaves

In a julep glass, muddle the mint leaves with the sherry, then add the rest of the spirits and pebble ice. Swizzle, then add more pebble ice (forming a mound) and three mint sprigs for garnish.