The three common “must haves”:

•    Food
•    Liquor
•    Gambling

Food:
Bourbon Balls
Derby Pie
Beaten Biscuits and Ham
BBQ Pork
Benedictine
Hot Brown
Burgoo

Liquor:
Mint Juleps
Bourbon
Whiskey

Gambling:
Derby Pot
-if you are able hire a bookie to place bets from party

Make your own hat! Your outfit is not complete without a Derby hat. However, keeping up with the fashion can be expensive so, look amazing with out spending a great deal. Find a plain weave style, big brim hat at your local department store. Check out different styles and looks online. Check out your local hobby and craft store (make sure you search online for coupons before you head out) and grab all the materials you need to make your one of a kind hat, ribbon, beads, scissors, pins, material glue. Once you have collected all your needed items…create your million dollar masterpiece!

-Share your photos!!!

The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Too many of these is known to make some drive like they never should have received a license. Please drink responsibly!!

BOURBON BALLS

1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate bits
1/2 c. sugar
3 tbsp. light corn syrup (Karo white)
1/3 c. bourbon
2 1/2 c. (about 5 dozen) finely crushed vanilla wafers
1 c. finely chopped pecan nuts
Powdered sugar to roll balls in

Melt chocolate over hot water. Remove from hot water and stir in sugar and syrup. Blend in bourbon. Combine wafers and nuts and add to chocolate mixture; mix well.

Form 1-inch balls and roll in confectioners sugar. Let ripen in covered container at least several days. Makes about 4 1/2 dozen. Will keep 3-4 weeks in tightly covered container!

Nothing will please your guests more then good ol’ Kentucky favorites. You can turn your party into a classic Kentucky gathering or a fun for all BBQ! Which ever you choose, sharing the experience of Kentucky with your guests will be more then enjoyable.

If you want to go with the classic Kentucky party, white linens with polished silver and china will claim the simple elegance of the bluegrass state. Providing your guests with a traditional Kentucky snack will be a delight. Kentucky Benedictine (a cucumber dip) is a go around favorite, serve with crudité, crackers or triangles of cocktail rye. Beaten biscuits and country ham can be made into snack size tastings for your guests. “No dessert until you finish your food” is not taken into account when hosting a Derby party. Bourbon Balls are a definite crowd pleaser. For a main course Burgoo or Hot Browns are always a great choice. Burgoo is a classic soup made with a variety of meats and vegetables. Hot Browns are a signature item from Louisville’s Brown Hotel. Hot Browns can also be made vegetarian style to please any guest. And for dessert…Derby Pie.

If your taste is a little more wild then a classic Kentucky party, then bring on the BBQ and the potluck! Provide the meat for your guests and have your guests bring their favorite southern style side dish. Pick up some Derby themed decorations and have a free for all day, food, liquor and gambling.

The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home

Tis summer, the darkies are gay

The corn top’s ripe and the meadow’s in bloom

While the birds make music all the day

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor

All merry, all happy and bright

By ‘n by hard times come a-knocking at the door

Then my old Kentucky home good night

Weep no more, my lady

Oh, weep no more, today

We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home

For the old Kentucky home far away.

They hunt no more for the ‘possum and the coon,

On meadow, the hill and the shore,

They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,

On the bench by that old cabin door.

The day goes by like a shadow o’er the heart,

With sorrow where all was delight.

The time has come when the darkies have to part,

Then my old Kentucky home, good night.

The head must bow and the back will have to bend,

Wherever the poor folks may go

A few more days and the trouble will end,

In the field where sugar-canes may grow.

A few more days for to tote the weary load,

No matter, ’twill never be light

A few more days till we totter on the road,

Then my old Kentucky home, good night.

Ingredients for a Billion-Ayre’s Bet

* Bombay Sapphire Gin
* Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
* Campari
* Squeeze Of Lime
* Champagne
* Ice Cubs

Quantities for one drink:

* 3 Oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
* 2 Oz Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
* 3/4 Oz Campari
* Oz Squeeze Of Lime
* Oz Champagne
* Oz Ice Cubs

Blending Instructions:

* Shake gin, juices and Campari with ice cubes
* Strain and pour into Rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes
* Top with champagne
* Garnish with lime wheel

Serving Glass

Cocktail Glass

What do you think?