Ready for the 2023 Kentucky Derby? Make these signature Triple Crown cocktails at home

Lindsay Smith
·3 min read

The annual Kentucky Derby is almost here and some watching from afar may be looking to get their hands on one of the Derby’s signature cocktails.

The Mint Julep has been the signature drink of the Derby for years, and Churchill Downs also has other staple cocktails it serves — the Oaks Lily and the Woodford Reserve Spire.

The other Triple Crown venues have signature drinks as well, including the Black-Eyed Susan and Belmont Jewel. We’ve rounded up the official recipes, courtesy of each organization.

So if you’re hosting a party or just stocking the bar, here are the cocktails quintessential to Thoroughbred racing’s biggest honor. As always, please drink responsibly.

Churchill Downs: The Kentucky Derby

The Mint Julep is practically synonymous with Kentucky’s biggest event, the Derby. We’ve rounded up not only the classic recipe, but three other twists you can try to enjoy this refreshing drink.

Churchill has two other celebratory cocktails, however.

The Oaks Lily

Brett Sheldon, from Denver, holds two Grey Goose Oaks Lilies in the Longines 141st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs May 1, 2015. Photo by Amy Wallot
Brett Sheldon, from Denver, holds two Grey Goose Oaks Lilies in the Longines 141st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs May 1, 2015. Photo by Amy Wallot

For those in the mood for a light, vodka-based cocktail, try The Oaks Lily.

Recipe: In a glass with crushed ice, add in one part Finlandia vodka, one part sweet and sour mix, a quarter part triple sec and three parts cranberry juice. Serve with a garnish of blackberries and a lemon wedge.

The Woodford Reserve Spire

The $1,000 Mint Julep Bluegrass Cup, left, and Woodford Reserve Spire, right, were shown for the first time at Churchill Downs in this file photo.
The $1,000 Mint Julep Bluegrass Cup, left, and Woodford Reserve Spire, right, were shown for the first time at Churchill Downs in this file photo.

Kentucky isn’t home to the bourbon capital of the world for nothing. If Woodford Reserve Bourbon is your whiskey of choice, try a Spire.

Recipe: Mix together 1.5 ounces of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, 2 ounces of lemonade, 1 ounce of cranberry juice and lemon twist. Serve it over ice with a lemon twist garnish, and you have the Churchill Down’s signature reserve spire.

For a mocktail version, mix together 1.5 ounces of unsweetened tea, 2 ounces of lemonade and 1 ounce of cranberry juice. Garnish with lemon twist and serve in a glass with ice.

Pimlico Park Racetrack: Preakness Stakes

The Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan cocktail glasses are seen in the clubhouse before Saturday’s 140th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in this file photo.
Black-Eyed Susan cocktail glasses are seen in the clubhouse before Saturday’s 140th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in this file photo.

The signature cocktail of the Preakness Stakes, which takes place later in May, is also made with Finlandia vodka and is dubbed The Black-Eyed Susan.

Recipe: Add 1.5 ounces of Finlandia vodka, 0.5 ounce of St. German liqueur, 2 ounces of pineapple juice, a 0.25 ounce of lime juice and 0.75 ounce of orange juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and serve garnished with an orange wedge.

The Belmont Park Racetrack: Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Jewel

The signature drink of the Belmont Stakes, the Jewel, is also bourbon based and includes plenty of lemonade.

Recipe: Add 1.5 ounces of Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 2 ounces of lemonade and 1 ounce of pomegranate juice together before serving with a lemon twist garnish.

All of the Kentucky Derby’s cocktails

See Kentucky Derby’s full cocktail menu below:

  • Old Forester Mint Julep

  • Finlandia Oaks Lily

  • Woodford Reserve Spire

  • Herradura Horseshoe Margarita

  • Finlandia Rose

  • Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned

  • Secretariat’s Mint Julep

  • Old Forester Sage Julep

  • Woodford Reserve Whiskey Sour

  • Old Forester Chocolate Julep

  • Old Forester Peach Blossom Julep

  • Old Forester Pineapple Julep

  • Old Forester Classic Old Fashioned

  • Finlandia Raspberry Lemonade

  • Finlandia Finnish Line

  • Finlandia Herbarium Pitcher

  • Woodford Reserve Classic Mint Julep

  • Woodford Reserve Cherries & Cream Julep

  • Woodford Reserve Blackberry Mint Julep Cup Recipe

  • Finlandia Apple Cider Mule

  • Finlandia Bloody Mary Pitcher

Nonalcoholic Derby drink

If you don’t want anything alcoholic and want to stay refreshed, you can make yourself a pitcher of the Kentucky Derby’s sweet ice tea.

Recipe: Add 2 cups of sugar or sugar substitute to 3 quarts of boiling water, add a 4-quart size tea bags and stir. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes, pour into a gallon container and fill the rest with cool water. You can add a lemon or fresh mint to garnish.

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