We have curated some fun additions to celebrate Derby Day anywhere!

Brunch is a big deal at the Derby.  You could make a spread of all kinds of breakfast appetizers.  Mini quiche, egg bites, muffins, biscuits and sausage, bagels, hash browns, waffles with fruit all would be so so good!

• The Hot Brown is The iconic sandwich of Kentucky. The open-face affair features sliced roasted turkey on thick toast, smothered in a rich cheesy Mornay sauce, and baked until bubbling. And in case that wasn’t enough, the whole thing gets topped off with bacon and a slice of tomato.
• Pimento Cheese – after all, it is the caviar of the south.
• Deviled Eggs – another southern favorite.
• Kentucky Bourbon Balls
• Beer Cheese – for all those crackers and pretzels
• Fried Chicken – Need I say more – what a southern plate of happiness!

Mint Julep Cocktail

And of course, a Derby isn’t a Derby without a mint julep cocktail.  Have plenty of fresh mint, seltzer water, Kentucky Bourbon whiskey, fun red and white paper straw, simple sugar syrup,  and ice. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup mint leaves, packed
• 32 ounces Kentucky bourbon
• 8 sprigs mint, fresh, for garnish

Directions

1. Rinse mint prior to chopping. Reserve 8 sprigs for garnishing, roughly chop the rest.
2. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and chopped mint. Bring to a moderate boil and reduce by a third. Allow syrup to cool.
3. Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves. This can be made several days ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. 
4. Fill eight frozen, silver julep cups* with shaved ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and approximately 1/4 cup mint syrup depending on one’s desired sweetness.

Need a nonalcoholic version? This one makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

• 3 cup club soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tsp lime juice
• 6 oz thawed lemonade concentrate
• 6 tbsp creme de menthe syrup
• green food coloring
• mint leaves for garnish
• lemon for garnish
• cherries for garnish

Instructions

• In a medium pot, dissolve sugar in club soda by stirring constantly on medium heat. Add lime juice and lemonade concentrate and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and add creme de menthe syrup and food coloring. Chill.
• Use this mixture as syrup – 3 parts syrup to 5 parts water. Makes about ⅔ gallon. ENJOY!