Transport yourself to Churchill Downs with this classic cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces bourbon

• 1/2 ounce mint infused simple syrup

• 3 dashes of bitters (I use Angostura for the classic flavor profile, but feel free to get creative)

• 1 sprig of mint to garnish

• ice

Simple Syrup Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of sugar

• 1/4 cup of water

• 1 bunch of mint

Before diving into the cocktail, start with the simple syrup to give it sufficient time to cool. Combine sugar and water in a small sauce pan over medium heat until boiling. Take off the heat and add the mint. As this cools, the mint will infuse into the simple syrup allowing for each sip of this drink to pack a minty punch!

Assemble the cocktail by combing the bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters over ice, and stir to combine. For this drink, go for something in the 100-110 proof range to avoid a watered down mess by the end of the glass. Think Wild Turkey 101 or Evan Williams BiB. Lastly, garnish with mint for your instagram photo (if you don’t post on Derby Day, did you really even watch the Derby?!?) and enjoy a classic cocktail!