Transport yourself to the golden era with this classic Brown Derby Cocktail featuring smooth bourbon, zesty grapefruit, and wildly aromatic honey syrup. A perfect balance of spirit-forward, citrus, and sweet, it’s an elegant 1930s-era sipper.
Looking for a classic Brown Derby Cocktail?
The derby drink you’re probably most familiar with is the iconic mint julep. However, tons of other cocktail recipes enjoyed during the derby are just as delicious, like this Brown Derby cocktail.
With citrus notes like an Aperol Spritz with a Twist but with the depth of a Smoked Old Fashioned, this Brown Derby Cocktail will transport you to the track with every sip.
What Is A Brown Derby Drink?
Named after the famous hat-shaped restaurant The Brown Derby, the Brown Derby Cocktail’s origins began during the Golden Age of Hollywood in the early 1930’s. Founder of the Hollywood Reporter, Billy Wilkerson, turned the Sunset Strip into an iconic 1.7 miles of highway, a destination for the rich and famous. Wilkerson also owned the Vendôme Club on Sunset Boulevard, the birthplace of the classic cocktail, the Brown Derby.
The brown derby recipe consists of bourbon whiskey, grapefruit juice, and a classic honey syrup to tie everything together. It’s the perfect balance of sweetness and caramel flavors to cool you down on a warm derby day.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make a Brown Derby Cocktail
For the Cocktail
For the Garnish
How to Make a Brown Derby Drink
- Prepare the Honey Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine equal parts honey and water. Heat over low heat, stirring until the honey dissolves into the water. Allow the syrup to cool before using.
- Prepare the Garnish: Cut a thin strip of grapefruit peel for the twist. Be cautious not to include the bitter white pith.
- Prepare the Cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, add the bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice, and honey syrup. Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake and Strain: Shake the ingredients vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. This chills and dilutes the drink slightly. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish: Express the grapefruit twist over the cocktail by giving it a twist over the glass, releasing the citrus oils. Optionally, drop the twist into the drink as a garnish.
- Serve: Serve the Brown Derby cocktail immediately while it’s still cold.
Expert Recipe Tips
- If you don’t want to make the honey syrup, you can use maple syrup or simple syrup instead.
- Use a cocktail shaker for best results.
- Use any type of honey you like for this cocktail.
How to serve this cocktail
Pour into a rocks glass and enjoy as a pre-dinner drink with some yummy appetizers or enjoy during dinner for a refreshing libation.
More Cocktail Recipes
With simple ingredients and prep, you can easily craft this refreshing cocktail in less than 5 minutes. Perfect for those days when you need a tart pick-me-up. If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader!
Brown Derby Cocktail Recipe
AmericanEquipment
- cocktail shaker
- Saucepan
- Measuring cup/spoons
- Knife
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 3/4 oz honey syrup - 1:1 ratio of honey to water
Instructions
- Prepare the Honey Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine equal parts honey and water (e.g., 1 cup honey to 1 cup water). Heat over low heat, stirring until the honey dissolves into the water. Allow the syrup to cool before using.
- Prepare the Garnish: Cut a thin strip of grapefruit peel for the twist. Be cautious not to include the bitter white pith.
- Prepare the Cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, add the bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice, and honey syrup. Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake and Strain: Shake the ingredients vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. This chills and dilutes the drink slightly. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish: Express the grapefruit twist over the cocktail by giving it a twist over the glass, releasing the citrus oils. Optionally, drop the twist into the drink as a garnish.
- Serve: Serve the Brown Derby cocktail immediately while it's still cold.
Notes
- If you don’t want to make the honey syrup, you can use maple syrup or simple syrup instead.
- Use a cocktail shaker for best results.
- Use any type of honey you like for this cocktail.
Nutrition
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
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