The Kentucky Derby will take place at Church Hill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Time for fancy hats, a horse race, bourbon and cocktails!

The Classic Mint Julep
Makes 1 cocktail
- 8 mint leaves
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- crushed ice
- Garnish: mint sprig
In a Julep cup or rocks glass, lightly muddle the mint leaves in the simple syrup.
Add the bourbon then pack the glass tightly with crushed ice.
Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.
Top with more crushed ice, and garnish with a mint sprig.

Knob Creek® Mint Julep
Ingredients:
1½ parts Knob Creek® Single Barrel Reserve
2 bunches mint
1 part simple syrup
1 splash soda
Method:
- In a julep cup, mix the mint sprigs with simple syrup and a splash of soda.
- Add fine crushed ice and pour in the bourbon.
- Lift out two mint leaves for garnish.
- Add powdered sugar over mint to add an optional frosted appearance

Southern Sweet Peach Tea Cocktail
Makes one cocktail
2 ounces Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
1 ounce peach schnapps
1 tablespoon peach preserves
Lemon slice and mint sprig for garnish
Place sweet tea vodka, peach schnapps and peach preserves in a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Remove cover and stir to make sure peach preserves are mixed into cocktail. Strain into chilled cocktail glass or mason jar. Garnish with lemon slice and mint sprig.

French 95
The French 95 is a twist on the classic French 75 (gin + lemon juice + champagne). It is like a Mimosa with gin.
Makes 1 cocktail
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 ounce bourbon
2 ounces chilled champagne
Thin strip of orange peel and thin strip of lemon peel
Fresh raspberries for garnish
Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
Pour in bourbon, freshly squeezed lemon juice, orange juice and simple syrup.
Cover and shake vigorously. Run the orange peel around the rim and stem of a champagne flute. Place peels in champagne flute.
Strain cocktail into a Champagne flute. Top with chilled champagne. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

Cherry Bourbon Lemonade
Makes one cocktail
- 5-6 sweet cherries pitted
- 2 ounces sweet fresh Lemonade
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1.5 ounces bourbon
- 1 tablespoon Maraschino Cherry Liqueur
- 2 tablespoons tart cherry juice
- Gently muddle the cherries in a cocktail glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Add the remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously, then strain into the prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry with stem.
Southern Spoonful Recipe Column ~ The Roanoker Magazine
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