The annual running of the Kentucky Derby (preceded shortly by the annual running of locals out of town) is fast approaching (it’s Saturday). And aside from the traditional fare of bourbon-based Old Fashioneds and Mint Juleps served on every corner, here are a few alternative recipes that may liven up your get together.

Oaks Lily
1 part Grey Goose vodka
½ part fresh lemon juice
½ part simple syrup
3 part cranberry juice
splash of orange liqueur

Fill glass slightly above rim with cubed ice. Pour ingredients in order listed to ½ inch from top of glass. Stir slowly and present with a fresh blackberry and a slice of lemon.

Malt Julep
2 parts Glenfiddich 14 Years Old
bruised mint leaves
simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Build with crushed ice and garnish with mint sprigs in a traditional Julep cup.

Slow & Low Julep
3 oz Slow & Low Rye
1/2 oz simple syrup, preferably demerara
Lots of mint — 10 springs (reserve 1 sprig for garnish)
Crushed ice
Copper, steel or aluminum cup

Muddle whiskey and mint in a mix glass. Add 1 large cube of ice. Stir, but not so much as to dilute — a bakers dozen revolutions. Add liberal amounts of crushed ice to more than fill the tin cup. Fine strain contents of mix into a glass over crushed ice. Garnish with 6 mint leaves.

The Upbeat
0.75 parts Drambuie
0.75 parts Hendrick’s Gin
2 parts Darjeeling tea (cooled)
0.5 part rose simple syrup
2 dashes peach bitters
1 parts sparkling water

Combine Drambuie, gin, and simple syrup in a mixing glass filled 3/4 with ice. Stir for 30 seconds to combine. Pour into an Old Fashioned glasses with one large ice cube. Add 2 dashes of the bitters into each glass. Further sweeten with rose simple syrup to taste. Stir again. Finish with Sparkling water in each glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

The Grandstand
1 ½ oz. Cynar
¾ oz. Wild Turkey 101
½ oz. simple syrup
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
½ oz. fresh grapefruit juice
12 mint leaves
2 oz. soda water
2 dashes Fee Brother’s Grapefruit Bitters

In a rocks glass add mint and all ingredients except soda water and bitters. Gently muddle, add ice then soda and top with bitters.

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