Old Fizgerald Bottled-In-Bond
Made by Heaven Hill, this wheated bourbon is an old-fashioned old standard. To get you in the mood, I’ll let Hunter S. Thompson describe his landing in Louisville when he covered the derby for Scanlan’s back in 1970:
In the air-conditioned lounge I met a man from Houston who said his name was something or other — “but just call me Jimbo” — and he was here to get it on. “I’m ready for anything, by God! Anything at all. Yeah, what are you drinkin?” I ordered a Margarita with ice, but he wouldn’t hear of it: “Naw, naw … what the hell kind of drink is that for Kentucky Derby time? What’s wrong with you, boy?” He grinned and winked at the bartender. “Goddam, we gotta educate this boy. Get him some good whiskey … ”
I shrugged. “Okay, a double Old Fitz on ice.” Jimbo nodded his approval.
Woodford Reserve
Booker’s
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The mint julep—a hefty pour of bourbon muddled with powdered sugar, draped over crushed ice, and decorated with a sprig of mint—is the classic derby cocktail. Trouble is, all that crushed ice can turn a lesser bourbon into oaky water fast, especially in that southern sunshine. You need something like Booker’s, Jim Beam’s uncut, unfiltered, cask-strength label, to stand up to the dilution.
Blanton’s
