Classic Brown Derby Cocktail

The retro cocktail Brown Derby combines bourbon whiskey with grapefruit and honey syrup: it’s sweet, lemony and refreshing!

Here’s a drink that’s sweet, lemony, and just plain fun: the Brown derby cocktail! This retro 1930s drink is a hearty bourbon cocktail that tones down spicy whiskey with sweet grapefruit juice. What is special about this drink? It uses honey syrup instead of traditional plain syrup that adds complexity and sweet undertones. Serve this drink anytime: It’s the perfect signature drink for a party, or thin it down with soda water to make a highball for brunch.

What is a Brown Derby cocktail?

The Brown Derby cocktail was invented in Hollywood, California in the 1930s. While you might think it’s a horse racing drink (like mint julep), the name actually comes from a restaurant. The Brown Derby was a restaurant chain in Los Angeles in the 1920s that was shaped like a brown derby hat! (Here is a foto.)

It is very similar to a cocktail called De Rigueur in the 1920’s cocktail books, the only difference being the use of bourbon and the amounts. The ingredients of a Brown Derby cocktail are:

• Bourbon whiskey
• grapefruit juice
• honey syrup

How to make honey syrup

Honey syrup is a simple syrup made with honey instead of granulated sugar. You can use any type of honey to make it, and different types impart different flavors. Use a local honey if you can find it! It brings the unique nuance of the aromas of the flowers to your region. How honey syrup is made:

1. Add equal parts honey and water to the saucepan and heat over medium-high heat.
2. Stir until honey has dissolved (don’t let simmer!), about 1-2 minutes. Cool to room temperature before use. Store in the fridge for 1 month.

More cocktails with honey syrup? Once you’ve crafted a batch, use it to craft Bee Knees, Penicillin, and Gold Rush.

How to make a Brown Derby cocktail: shake and strain!

The Brown Derby is a standard shaken cocktail: there really is nothing quite like a shake and strain! Here’s what to do, along with some gear replacement suggestions:

• Shake: Pour bourbon, grapefruit and honey into a shaker. Fill with ice and then shake until very cold. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a lid instead.
• stump: Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Don’t have a cocktail strainer? Use a fine mesh strainer instead.
• Garnish: If desired, a garnish of grapefruit slices makes the glass festive.

Add a squeeze of lemon if you like!

Here’s an editorial comment from your resident cocktail experts! Looking at this glass, you might assume that it tastes sharp and tart. But the overwhelming flavor profile for a Brown Derby cocktail is sweet. Grapefruit juice is less tart than lemon juice and lime juice: Like orange juice, it has sweeter notes. If you love zesty cocktails (like us!), you might want to add a squeeze of lemon to your Brown Derby to give it a splash of sparkle.

Do you like grapefruit cocktails? Try Greyhound, Salty Dog Cocktail, Paloma, Hemingway Daiquiri or Sea Breeze.

Serve Brown Derby as a brunch drink

Some people say Brown Derby is a brunch drink: probably because it contains grapefruit. But we can’t necessarily say that we recommend 3 ounces of whiskey for brunch! If you plan to use it for brunch, we recommend diluting it with sparkling water to make a highball cocktail or spritzer. Here’s what to do:

• Prepare a mixture 3 or 4 times the recipe below. Estimate that 1 serving below equals 2 servings of the diluted drink.
• Pour into glasses with equal parts Brown Derby Mix and sparkling water.

When to serve a Brown Derby cocktail

The Bees Knees cocktail is a sweet retro cocktail that’s great enjoyed as:

• summer drink
• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Evening drink between boys or between girls
• Aperitif at aperitif time

More bourbon drinks

Are you a bourbon fan? Here are some more of the best bourbon cocktails to have in your arsenal: