The weekend of May 4th, 5th and 6th is always a fun and exciting time here in Ocean City, MD with our kick off to a new season called SpringFest. We celebrate with a weekend full of great music, good food and lots of arts and crafts. To add to the festivities the Kentucky Derby is run on Saturday May 4th which is always exciting whether you have a bet on the race or not. Traditionally, on race day, the ladies wear big hats and the men dress in sear sucker suits while everyone drinks mint juleps but since we are in Ocean City we will forgo the hats and suits for more casual attire. However; I think anytime is a good time for a Bourbon Cocktail, especially on Kentucky Derby Day, so here are a few recipes that you may find tasty and easy to make.
The Classic Mint Julep
¾ ounce simple syrup
10 mint leaves
3 ounces of good Bourbon
Crushed Ice
In a tall glass place all the mint leaves in the bottom and add the simple syrup, then muddle. Fill the glass half way with crushed ice and then pour in the Bourbon. Stir vigorously to chill and then fill the glass again with crushed ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Bourbon Mojito
1 ½ ounce Bourbon
Fresh Mint
2 tbl simple syrup
3 or 4 mint leaves
2 Lime wedges
Splash of Triple Sec
Club Soda
In a shaker add the mint leaves, lime wedges and simple syrup and muddle. Fill shaker half full with ice and add the Bourbon and Triple Sec then cover and shake to chill. In a tall glass rimmed with sugar filled with ice pour in the liquid straining out the ice. Top with Club Soda and garnish with a lime slice.
Manhattan Noonday
1 ½ ounce of Bourbon
1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
1 dash of Angostura Bitters
1 dash of Simple Syrup
1 Maraschino cherry
In a shaker filled with ice add all the ingredients except the cherry. Shake to chill and pour into a rock glass (Manhattans are traditionally served “straight up”) add cherry for garnish.
Bourbon Bramble
1 ounce St. Germain (elderflower liqueur)
1 ounce Bourbon
½ Crème de Cassis
Fresh Lemon juice from half a lemon
In a shaker filled with ice combine all the ingredients and shake to chill. Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain the cocktail and fill. Garnish with lemon wedge.
These are all fun cocktails to serve to your friends and fairly easy to make. One note to anyone who does not know what simple syrup is; the recipe is as follows: Equal parts sugar and water heated in a pan and allowed to reduce by 1/3. Chill and use. Also my rule of thumb for all things edible, “The better the raw ingredients the better the final product”, in other words don’t skimp on the quality of the Bourbon!
So have a great weekend here in Ocean City or at home with a yummy cocktail in your hand. Hope your horse wins!
