Ready for the KY Derby? Kentucky Burgoo

[MagiePerdu]

Cucumber Lemonade

Ingredients

2 English (hothouse) cucumbers
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 cups spring or filtered water
1 Simple Syrup or agave syrup

Directions:

Finely grate cucumbers into a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Drain the cucumber for 1 hour and collect the juices.

Press on the cucumber pulp to extract any additional juice.

Add lemon juice, water and syrup, if using, to the cucumber juice. Serve chilled or over ice.

Calories 0cal Carbohydrates 0g Fat 0g Saturated fat 0g
Mono unsaturated fat 0g Protein 0g Cholesterol 0mg Fiber 0g Potassium 0mg

[MagiePerdu]

Mint Julep Sprintzer

Ingredients

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1 cup bourbon
2 10-bottles of chilled club soda
6 cups ice
8 fresh mint sprigs

Directions

Mix fresh lemon juice, sugar, and fresh mint leaves in small bowl until sugar dissolves; press on mint with back of spoon to crush lightly.

Let stand 30 minutes, then strain into a pitcher.

Mix in bourbon, then club soda and ice.

Pour into 8 tall glasses. Garnish each drink with mint sprig.

[MagiePerdu]

More Racing-Themed Drinks

Apparently, the Kentucky Derby isn’t the only part of the Triple Crown with its own signature drink (the Julep, of course). The “Black-eyed Susan” is often served at the Preakness, and at the Belmont Stakes, it’s Long Island Iced Tea!

Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients:

6 Tbsp. Sweet-and-sour mix
3 Tsp. Vodka
3 Tbsp. Gin
3 Tbsp. Orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
3 Tbsp. Light rum
3 Tbsp. Tequila
Crushed ice
6 Tbsp Coca-cola (or other cola drink)
Garnish (lemon slices)

Directions:

Combine the sweet-and-sour mix with all the alcohols and the ice in a cocktail shaker. Cover with the lid and shake for 30 seconds, or until well chilled.

Remove the lid and strain into 2 chilled martini glasses.

Pour the cola into each glass, garnish and serve immediately.

[MagiePerdu]

Black-Eyed Susan Cocktail

(This drink’s name is taken from the flowers that make up the blanket draping the winning horse at the Preakness.)

Ingredients:

¾ cup orange juice
½ cup pineapple juice
3 Tbsp. Vodka
3 Tbsp. Light rum
2 Tbsp. Orange Liquer (Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
Crushed Ice
Garnish (lime slices/fresh cherries)

Directions:

Stir together the juices and alcohol.

Fill 2 12-oz glasses with the crushed ice.

Pour the juice-alcohol mixture over the ice.

Garnish and serve immediately.

[MagiePerdu]

Basil (not mint) Julep

(If you place a short cocktail straw near the basil sprig garnish, you can enhance the pleasure of the drink by sniffing the fragrance as you sip.)

Ingredients:

3 fresh basil leaves
1 Tbsp. basil simple syrup (recipe below)
Crushed ice
2 Tbsp (1 oz) bourbon
1 (4-inch) cocktail straw
1 fresh basil sprig (you DO have basil in your herb garden, doncha?)
Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:

Place the basil leaves and basil simple syrup in a julep cup or 8 to 10 oz glass. Gently press the leaves against the side of the cup with the back of a spoon to relase the oils.

Pack the cup tightly with crushed ice and pour the boubon over the ice.

Insert the straw, placing the basil sprig directly next to the straw.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if you wish.

BASIL SIMPLE SYRUP

(This recipe makes about a cup and a half. After making it, cool it for an hour and chill for a day. Make the syrup the day before you plan to make your Basil Julep. Once the basil is discarded, keep the syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. BTW. . .it goes great in your unsweetened iced tea!)



Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 Cup Water
1 cup firmly packed fresh basil sprigs

Directions:

Bring the sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

Boil, stirring often, 1 minute or until sugar is dissolved.

Remove from heat; add the basil and cool completely (about an hour). Pour into a glass gar. Cover and chill 24 hours.

Remove and discard basil.

(If you insist on a MINT julep, substitute mint for the basil in these recipes)

[Modemouth]