Looking for that little something extra to make The Kentucky Derby even sweeter? We’ve got the trick thanks to a couple of fun cocktail recipes courtesy of the experts at Southern Kitchen. Whether you’re enjoying The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs or a party with friends, these easy-to-make libations are sure to add a little pep to your step during any celebration.
Southern Kitchen’s Oaks Lily Cocktail
Hands On Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
1 ounce vodka
½ ounce orange liqueur, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice
3 ounces cranberry juice
Lemon wedges, for serving
Fresh blackberries, for serving
Instructions
Fill a Collins or highball glass with ice. Add vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and cranberry juice, then stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a fresh blackberry. Serve.
About the Recipe
The unsung cocktail hero of Churchill Downs, the Oaks Lily is perfect for those who may not be in the mood for a mint julep. The cocktail is a slightly sweeter riff on a cosmopolitan; however, the sweetness is tempered by the tartness of the cranberry juice. Simple syrup is incredibly easy to make at home. Just combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Cool and store until ready to use. For more information on Southern Kitchen’s Oaks Lily cocktail, visit https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/cocktail/oaks-lily-cocktail.
Southern Kitchen’s Moonshine Mule Cocktail
Hands On Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
Crushed ice
2 ounces unflavored moonshine
4 ounces ginger beer
Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
Fill a class to the rim with crushed ice. Pour moonshine over ice and top with ginger beer. Stir to combine, then garnish with a lime wedge. Serve.
About the Recipe
Think of this cocktail as a Russian immigrant settling in the South. Simple but tasty, this drink replaces the traditional vodka in a Moscow mule with good ol’ Southern moonshine, an unaged white whiskey. Copper mugs are the most traditional serving glass, but you can always substitute a Collins glass instead. For more information on Southern Kitchen’s Moonshine Mule cocktail, visit https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/cocktail/moonshine-mule-cocktail.
Whether Southern by birth or by transplant, Southern Kitchen invites its readers and makers to share in their passion for the dishes, drinks, faces, places, parties and gear that make the South unique. Finally, for more information, visit www.southernkitchen.com.