The 137th running of the Kentucky Derby is today, Saturday, May 7th.  I won’t be drinking a mint julep as the Thoroughbreds make their sprint around the track.  Instead, I’ll be having a Derby Daiquiri.  After all, I need a Tiki cocktail to quench my thirst.

The Derby Daiquiri was invented at the the Mai Kai by one of their famous mixologists, Mariano Licudine.  The cocktail won a contest making it the official drink of the Florida Derby.  You can still get a Derby Daiquiri today at the Mai Kai.

A true  Daiquiri isn’t one of those syrupy frozen drinks that come out of one of those spinning machines.  A real daiquiri is rum, lime juice, and a little sugar.  The Derby Daiquiri expands on the formula slightly by adding orange juice.  This is one of the easiest Tiki cocktails to make.  

All you need is:

• 1 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 1/2 oz White Puerto Rican Rum

First, chill your cocktail glass.  The original Derby Daiquiri was served in a special glass, but a Champaign saucer or other small glass will work great.  To chill a glass add ice and a splash of water to the glass, and let it chill while you make the cocktail.

Combine the fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, and white Puerto Rican rum in a cocktail shaker with some ice.  Shake the ingredients until the outside of the shaker gets frosty.  Next, dump the ice and water out of the glass, and strain the cocktail into the glass.

That’s all there is to it.  The Derby Daiquiri has a nice orange flavor, and a hint of lime.  There is a taste of Florida in every sip.  Just like the original Daiquiri the flavors of the rum come through.  So be sure to use a quality rum.  

Enjoy the derby and the daiquiri!

Mahalo!

Damon