Sep
30
Everyone has their favorite cocktails that they go to for any sporting event that they attend or watch on TV. Here are some cocktails tied to sporting events for you to try. Personally, at an early afternoon football game, I am going to the Bloody Mary Extra Spicy or the Screwdriver to start the day for the game. Heading to a tailgate, there will be a bottle of canned beer and maybe a shooter or two to get the party started. Now, what are some of the cocktails of famous sporting events? Taking a look at 8 of the Most Iconic Cocktails Tied to Sporting Events | VinePair we will discuss four of these drinks in detail. Azalea Cocktail Quote: Widely considered to be the world’s most prestigious golf tournament, the Masters takes place each April in Augusta, Ga. On the course, a blanket of blooming flowers decorates the grass surrounding the 13th hole and inspires the tournament’s unofficial cocktail: the Azalea Cocktail. Consisting of vodka, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine, the Azalea takes on a bright pink color, similar to that of the blooms surrounding the green. While I have not personally crafted one of these cocktails, I have now learned of this, and next spring while I am getting ready to watch the Greatest Major The Masters, I will ensure I have the ingredients and prepare one or two before the event starts. To get this drink to look similar to the plants around the 13th green, you will have to use just the right amount of grenadine. Too much will be too dark and too little will be too light and could throw off the flavor as grenadine can be a bit sweet. Looking forward to trying this cocktail Recipe: Mint Julep This drink is tied to the best two minutes in sports, The Kentucky Derby. Quote: The Mint Julep has been practically synonymous with the Kentucky Derby since becoming the horse race’s official cocktail nearly 100 years ago. Traditionally made with Kentucky bourbon as its base, the Mint Julep combines the spirit with muddled mint and a splash of simple syrup for a lively summer sip. Classically distributed in a silver cup meant to mimic the winning trophy, the cocktail has been served at Churchill Downs since the 1930s, and today, nearly 120,000 Mint Juleps are sold during Derby Weekend each May. I have hosted a Derby party for the last six years and have made plenty of this cocktail. Use Woodford Reserve bourbon for this drink. Slap the mint and then add it to the bottom of the glass. Fill it with crushed ice or ice cubes. Then add the simple syrup and bourbon and stir the drink in the glass. Top it with more mint and no straw so you get the smell of the mint with each sip of the drink. I have also used a shortcut to place the mint into the simple syrup as you are making the syrup to get that nice minty flavor and not have to slap the mint for each julep. You can prepare this drink beforehand and serve as your guests arrive for your party. Give it a whirl and enjoy. Recipe: The Lily Cocktail This is the drink of the Kentucky Oaks which is the biggest filly horse race. This will most definitely be on my next derby party drink list. Quote:While the Kentucky Derby is obviously the mainstay at Churchill Downs the first weekend in May, many may not know that a separate horse race actually takes place the day before: the Kentucky Oaks. Held on the Friday before the Derby, the winner of the Kentucky Oaks race receives prize money and a garland of lilies, hence the event’s official drink: the Lily Cocktail. Created by the event’s official vodka sponsor, Grey Goose, the cocktail takes inspiration from the Cosmopolitan with its mixture of Grey Goose, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup. The color of the cocktail is meant to pay homage to the winner’s lily bouquet and honor the race’s association with breast cancer awareness. Recipe: The Belmont Jewel Finally, the last drink to discuss is. Staying with the horse racing theme, this is the cocktail of the final race in the triple crown of horse racing. Made with Woodford Reserve again you will only need one bottle of bourbon to make a couple of different cocktails. Quote:Since the first two races in the Triple Crown boast their official cocktails, it’s only fitting that the Belmont Stakes, the final race in the series, receives its drink as well. Created in 2015, the Belmont Jewel — named for the race’s status as the final jewel in the Crown — is made using Woodford Reserve, the official bourbon of Belmont Park. The cocktail combines the bourbon with lemonade and pomegranate juice and serves as an easy concoction to serve in large quantities, which is exactly what the drink’s creators had in mind. This is a very simple cocktail to make and is made in the glass, so you don’t need a shaker or any other items for this. This cocktail is very light and refreshing for everyone to enjoy. Recipe: Conclusion While plenty of other Cocktails Tied to Sporting Events, the above are some of my favorites that I have enjoyed. What are some of your favorite cocktails to go with sporting events? Or other events that you enjoy? Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. Junior’s Bourbon Hall
