It’s Derby Day!
As you raise your glass and place your bets,
We have this to you to say:
May you win at ALL you do in life,
And not just on Derby Day!
"If the stable gate is closed, climb the fence." So said the legendary jockey Julie Krone, the first woman to win a Triple Crown race and the first to be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. It’s not been the easiest of rides for women in this sport, and so on this Derby weekend, we’ve decided to eschew the obvious bourbon mixes and celebrate with a menu of cocktails that, like Julie, are a breed above the rest.
GOING THE DISTANCE
At a mile and a quarter, the Derby is a challenge of strength, speed, and stamina, and only three fillies have ever won the race. It’s also a long day for the host at home, with races from mid-morning through the evening. Endurance hosting calls for a cocktail that can go the distance, and for this, we fall back on our stable favorite, the Fine Filly. We like to think of it as the Triple Crown of cocktails - easy to assemble, low ABV, and an instant crowd-pleaser. And unlike Regret, the first filly to win the Derby in 1915, we’re confident you’ll have none the next day.
A FINE FILLY
1 ½ oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
½ oz lime juice
3 oz ginger beer
Fill a large julep cup or copper mug with ice and
add each ingredient in turn, garnishing with a mint sprig.
BREAKING THE RULES
"A horse does not know whether the rider on his back wears a dress or pants away from the track." To date, no female jockey has won the Kentucky Derby, but Diane Crump overcame protest and ridicule to become the first woman to compete in the race in 1970. Our next cocktail pays tribute to Diane and to all the riders who have changed equine history. A riff on the classic Sidecar, the Sidesaddle is a nod to all that these women have fought for – from facing forward in the saddle to getting an equal shot at the race.
SIDESADDLE
1 ½ oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
¾ oz Cognac VSOP
¾ oz Grand Marnier
½ oz lemon juice
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass or julep cup filled with ice.
CELEBRATING THE WIN
In 1904, Mrs. Laska Durnell went behind her trainer husband’s back and entered her horse Elwood, bred by her friend Mrs. J.B. Prather, into the Kentucky Derby. Elwood became the first horse owned and bred by a woman to win the race. By 1942, seven of the first eight finishers in the race were owned by women. So, if you’re lucky enough to be cheering on the winner in the Run of the Roses this year, raise a glass with the classic Champagne Cup to the many women whose generosity, tenacity, and first-class rearing has got them to the track.
CHAMPAGNE CUP
1 ¼ oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
¾ oz Grand Marnier
3 oz brut champagne
1 oz club soda
Fill a large wine glass with ice and add ingredients one by one. Garnish with a cucumber rose, slice of orange, and sprig of fresh mint.