Triple Crown Cocktails

All too often, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing - the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Preakness Stakes in Baltimore and Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York - is overlooked as a reason to throw an early summer party. No horse has won the Triple Crown since 1978, but it's the anticipation of watching all three races every year that makes celebrating this sport so much fun. There are several Triple Crown drinks that are traditionally served at each race plus a few specific Belmont Stakes cocktail recipes. Prep the bar and start working on your mixology skills with these race-ready Triple Crown cocktails. 

Triple Crown party recipe for non-alcholic cocktails:

Fresh Southern Lemonade

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 tbsp grated lemon rind
• 1 3/4 cups fresh lemon juice (about 9 large lemons, no seeds)
• 5 cup water

Stir together sugar and boiling water until sugar dissolves. Add lemon rind,  juice and water. Chill and serve over ice.

Blackberry Iced Tea

• 3 cups blackberries (frozen or fresh)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup simple syrup
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
• 4 1/2 cups boiling water
• 2 family-size tea bags
• 2 1/2 cups cold water

Combine blackberries and sugar in a bowl and crush berries with spoon. Add mint and simple syrup and set aside. Pour boiling water over tea bags, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Throw away tea bags and pour tea over blackberry mixture. Allow everything to sit for one hour and then pour liquid through a strainer into a large pitcher. Add the rest of the water, cover and chill.

Signature Triple Crown cocktail recipe:

Bourbon Smash

• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 lime wedge
• 3 mint leaves
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• Crushed ice

Chill a glass and place berries, sugar, lime and mint inside. Muddle the ingredients at the bottom. Fill the glass with ice and bourbon and stir.

Belmont Stakes cocktail ideas:

The traditional drink of the Belmont Stakes is the Belmont Breeze, recipe found here. If that doesn't suit your taste buds, try these delicious concoctions.

The White Carnation (after the wreath of flowers that goes around the winning horse's head)

• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz peach schnapps
• 2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
• Splash of soda water
• Splash of heavy cream

Stir and pour over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

 

 

Long Island Iced Tea

• 1 part vodka 
• 1 part tequila
• 1 part run
• 1 part gin
• 1 part triple sec
• 1 1/2 part sour mix
• 1 splash cola drink

Mix ingredients together over ice in a glass. Pour into shaker and shake once. Pour back into the glass and make sure there is fizz on top. Garnish with cherries.

Watching a Thoroughbred horse win the Triple Crown is a great reason to celebrate and spend time with friends before all the craziness of summer begins. Enjoy these cocktails and some festive appetizers while watching the race and betting on what the results will be.