With the 144th Kentucky Derby being run Saturday , May 5, there's only one way to do your Derby party right — by also making it a Cinco De Mayo fiesta.
That requires making the appropriate drinks with the most appropriate liquor for the special occasions: Bourbon and tequila. More specifically, that means you need certified corn-mash, oak barrel-aged bourbon from Kentucky and blanco 100 percent agave tequila from Mexico.
Once you have those stocked in your bar, the best cocktails to make are mint juleps and margaritas. But it's the perfect time for a delicious twist to do both simple recipes. Here are two new drinks to enjoy with your chips, salsa and guacamole as you wait for post time:
2018 Kentucky Derby drink recipes
The bourbon margarita
1 1/2 ounces of bourbon
1 ounce of lime juice
1 ounce of triple sec
1 ounce of agave nectar
It's pretty easy once you have the ingredients. Shake all of that together and pour in a classic margarita class over crushed ice.
The tequila mint julep
3 ounces blanco tequila
1 1/2 ounce of lime juice
4-5 mint leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 mint sprig
Start with a highball glass and muddle the mint leaves, sugar and water well together at the bottom. Then add crushed rice before pouring tequila and lime juice over it. Garnish with the mint sprig.
