And they're off.....

I've never really had an affinity for horse racing, but there's something about the pomp and circumstance, the history, and the tradition of the Derby that makes me want to experience it in person. Of course the Derby cocktails, the pin stripe suites and the Fascinators add to the pull of the experience. But, there is nothing quite like the excitement as the horses enter the gates, the start of the race and the thrumming of their hooves on the track and they site of them as they push for the finish line. Writing that has gotten me eve more excited for those moments on Saturday.

Every year when the Derby line-up gets announced I look at the horse names and the odds and most years I inevitably pick the long shot to win. This goes back to when my husband and I were in our 20’s. We didn’t have enough money to take a real vacation so we stayed at my husband's friend's parents' house in Newport where they rented a room to vacationers. We watched Wimbledon with them, went to the beach and experienced the Newport scene. One night when we were having dinner at a Pub we heard the bartender talking about the Kentucky Derby and noticed the Televisions were all tuned to the race. We didn’t really have the money to bet, and it was too close to the race to bet at that point. But, we talked about how great it would be if we could bet $100 on the long shot and it would win. Sure enough the Long shot won. Needless to say we were pretty upset that we lost out on the chance for those winnings and we talked about it for the rest of that night. This was the beginning of the tradition of picking the Long Shot. Since I am not a fan of the Mint Julep, a Derby tradition, I decided to make a Bourbon cocktail with a tropical vibe. This cocktail is dedicated to this years long shot, Reincarnate. Cheers to this years Derby winner! I hope it is the Long Shot!

Ingredients:

2 oz Maker’s Mark

3/4 oz Pineapple juice

1/2 oz Allspice Simple Syrup

1-2 drops of Angostura Bitters ( I used my tropical bitters but Angostura bitters have a spicy flavor and they will work just as well)

Garnish with a pineapple slice or a Luxardo Cherry

Add all of the ingredients to a shaker or a mixing glass. Stir until well combined. Strain into a rocks glass with a large cube and garnish.

The Fascinator

It’s almost time for the Kentucky Derby! Someday I hope to experience it in person and get to wear one of the Derby hats that they call the Fascinator. But this year, I will enjoy the festivities on the live broadcast. The Kentucky Derby has a list of traditional cocktails. The most recognized is the Mint Julep. There is also the Oak Another one is the Champagne Mule I love to tweak a tried and true cocktail but in this case I decided to create my own and not tweak the Derby's version of the Champagne Mule. I wasn’t able to find fresh mint at my grocery store which is a shame since the Derby cocktails are know to feature fresh mint.

Photo by Adam Jaime Unsplash

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Pear Vodka

4-6 raspberries

1/2- 3/4oz elderflower liquor

4-6 oz prosecco or Champagne

Garnish with a few frozen raspberries and a sprig of mint

Muddle the raspberries and the vodka. Strain into a champagne glass, add 1/2 -3/4 oz of elderflower liquor and top with 4-6 oz champagne. Garnish with a few frozen raspberries and a sprig of mint.

This festive champagne cocktail is the perfect thing to sip while watching The Derby!

A Chai Tea Toddy Kind of Night

Early last week we had 70 and 80 degree weather and then by the end of the weekend it was in the high 40’s and dreary and bitter cold. Not only can my body not get used to this change in temperature but I ended up getting some spring virus and allergies at the same time. Needless to say I have not been in the mood to create a cocktail. But, last night when I was pondering what I could create that I might actually want to drink, I thought of a Hot Toddy. This is certainly not a traditional hot toddy which is actually equal parts boiling water and whiskey with lemon and/or spices. This is my version using Chai Tea, Vanilla bean paste, Whiskey or a Liqueuer and Anise Stars for garnishes. I like Stash Tea and you can find this Chai in decaf which is perfect for nighttime sipping. If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, you can use a 1/4 -1/2 tsp of vanilla extract instead. I only garnished with the Anise Flowers because I had them from another recipe, but they certainly are pretty! A cinnamon stick would work just as well. If you prefer honey and lemon you can use Black tea, fresh lemon juice and Honey Whiskey or Liqueur or make up your own creative version!

Ingredients:

Chai Tea Bag

Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Paste

Cinnamon Stick or Anise Flowers for Garnish

Chai Liquor or any brand of Spiced Whiskey

Steep the tea bag in water that is 190-210 degrees for 3-5 minutes. It is not recommended to pour boiling water over the tea bag because it will burn the tea leaves and they will not release their maximum flavor. Remove the tea bag and add 1/4-1/2 tsp of vanilla paste or extract. Stir with a small whisk or fork to incorporate into the tea. Then, add the Chai Spiced Liquor or Spiced Whiskey and stir. For a large mug I would recommend 2 oz of liquor or whiskey.