Derby 2025 Bourbon Trends: What to Sip & Serve Fri, May 09, 25 Derby 2025 Trends The Spirit of the Derby To drink bourbon on Kentucky Derby Day is like taking a sip of the twin spires themselves. Bourbon is an iconic part of Kentucky Derby culture, and it’s been that way since the dawn of the dirt track. Bourbon’s deep ties to Kentucky made it a natural fit when the race first premiered in 1875…spectators were often already fans of the spirit, and it wove itself into the fabric of the Kentucky Derby experience. In 1938, the mint julep became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, and now? More than 120,000 mint juleps will be sold at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend this year. Bourbon sales peak every Derby season. Why? Tradition is at the very soul of the Kentucky Derby experience. It’s been 151 years since Louisville made the Kentucky Derby an annual event, and Kentucky’s been making bourbon even longer. Folks around the world will buy a bottle of bourbon to make a classic mint julep recipe or Old Fashioned at their own Kentucky Derby watch party, or simply because that’s what they’ve always done during Derby season. It’s no wonder bourbon is at the soul of the Derby. The horses, the history, even the hats…these things take time, expertise, patience, and a little bit of flair. Bourbon checks all those boxes, and it tastes darn good too. Its beauty is also its versatility – drink a local Kentucky bourbon neat or check out some of our favorite Derby cocktail recipes. Top Bourbon Trends for Derby 2025 We admit it. We love the thrill of a little exclusivity. Derby season is ripe with opportunities to explore bourbon’s trends and special edition bourbons. Woodford Reserve, the official sponsor of the Kentucky Derby since 1999, recently announced its 2025 Kentucky Derby bottle. It’s…just darn beautiful. The artwork is by Humberto Lahera (current Louisvillian) and he’s all about paintings that blend classical and contemporary techniques. Sounds kind of like Woodford Reserve’s bourbon, now that we think about it… Evan Williams has released its own Kentucky Derby 2025 bottle, a limited edition single barrel bourbon, dipped in pink wax. It’s paired with a 53rd edition Gold Pegasus Pin, a cherished symbol of the Kentucky Derby Festival. This exclusive 2017 vintage bourbon is a perfect addition to anyone who’s looking for limited-edition bourbons in 2025. This one is collector-level, especially if you’re a Bob Dylan fan. Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Volume VI will be released with custom artwork by Bob Dylan. It’s a 12-year wheated bourbon finished in cigar barrels. Need we say more? Best Bourbons to Buy for Derby 2025 Our Kentucky Derby bourbon picks mix affordable and luxury, plus options we enjoy for sipping alongside our favorite bourbons for cocktails. Sipping Neat or On the Rocks Four Roses Small Batch Select: complex and nuanced, with waves of brown sugar, lemon, vanilla, and after notes of dark fruits and oak. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: smooth, balanced, and rich with hazelnut, vanilla, and apple spices. Basil Hayden’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey: notes of charred oak, caramel, and dried fruits make this an ideal starter bourbon for those who want to try sipping their bourbon. Bourbon Tasting Tips: Try sipping bourbons three ways to determine your favorite approach. Try it neat (nothing added), then a splash of water (to open it up and mellow the flavors), and then with a rock or two (ice Best bourbons for mixing in classic cocktails We have a dozen favorites, but these two are tasty, a good value for quality, and accessible: Angel’s Envy Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Great taste, flavorful with vanilla and dried fruits on the front followed by hints of spice and bitter chocolate. Its lower alcohol content makes it an all-around ideal pick as a cocktail bourbon. Basil Hayden’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Nah, it’s not groundhog day…this one is also one of our top picks for a sipping bourbon. We love a hard-working bottle that has the pedigree and flavors to drink neat, and also the complexity to stand strong in a good cocktail. Affordable vs. luxury bourbon options Good bourbon is bourbon you like, and we stand by that again and again. We also like to recommend an affordable bourbon and a luxury bourbon for those curious about both ends of the spectrum. Affordable pick: Old Grand-Dad Bonded – a classic, and a solid bourbon for the price (usually $21-27 for 750 ml). Subtle spice, cinnamon forward, and from the storied Jim Beam distillery. Think of it as Basil Hayden’s laidback cousin. An excellent choice for a Derby bourbon, especially if you’re serving a crowd. Luxury pick: Blanton’s Single Barrel – You can only have it once, and that’s luxury. What do we mean? Blanton’s single barrel is only released once a year from a single-batch barrel…which means the exact flavor can never be exactly repeated. You’ll get the essence of vanilla, butterscotch, oak, and many tasters pick up notes of cherry, dark tobacco, and sweet corn. The bottle design fits the price tag too…it’s an elegant design, looks great on a bar, and every bottle comes with a silver horse and jockey stopper. Folks love collecting the variety of stoppers, and it’s the perfect addition to a high-quality bourbon. Essential Derby Bourbon Cocktails Let’s go straight to the classic: the mint julep, an absolute icon. Mint Julep: The classic recipe + bourbon recommendations Mint Julep bourbon recommendations depend on your taste and budget, but we have a few favorites we like to share with our customers. Buffalo Trace: approachable, mellow sweetness with light oak, but with enough punch to stand strong in a four-ingredient mint julep recipe. Woodford Reserve: For when you want to feel like you’re at Churchill Downs, no matter where you’re watching the Derby. It’s a delightful balance of sweetness and charred oak, and it didn’t become the star (and sponsor) of the Derby for no reason. How to Make a Mint Julep A perfect example of how greatness doesn’t need to be fussy or complicated. Four ingredients, and you have an excellent Derby cocktail. 2 oz bourbon ½ oz simple syrup 6 mint leaves Crushed ice Instructions Muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup in a chilled mint julep glass or rocks glass. Add the bourbon and crushed ice. Stir, and top with more crushed ice, garnish with a mint sprig. For creative variations that still hold close to the spirit of the original, check out our favorite mint julep recipes with a twist. Old Fashioned: A Derby party staple Another delicious pick for your Derby party lineup is the Old Fashioned. It’s ideal for those who may not like mint, or simply want to sample another local Kentucky bourbon cocktail. 2 teaspoons simple syrup 1 teaspoon water 2 dashes bitters 1.5 oz bourbon 1 slice orange 1 maraschino cherry 1 cup ice cubes Instructions Pour simple syrup, water, and bitters into a rocks glass. Add bourbon and 4 regular or 1 large ice cube. Garnish with orange slice and cherry. New and trending bourbon cocktails for 2025 Split-Base Cocktails Let’s say you’d usually order an Old Fashioned with just bourbon…there’s a cocktail trend in 2025 that leans toward lower ABV and adding complexity using split bases, like a bourbon/cognac split or a bourbon/non-alcoholic spirit blend. Fruit over Fruity Syrups While we still love adding a drizzle of elderberry syrup to certain cocktails to tell ourselves we’re boosting immunity, there’s an understandable move toward fresh fruit over sugary syrups, and spring time is the perfect season to start embracing the trend. Consider muddling strawberries or fresh blueberries into your bourbon cocktail instead of a syrup…and because what’s old eventually becomes new again, we’d like to point out – our friend the mint julep was ahead of her time on this one. Simple syrup? Sure. But also fresh mint. Ah, when trendy is timeless… Where to Buy Bourbon for Derby 2025 Stock up on this year’s must-have bourbons at Cox’s & Evergreen Liquors! We’re your local liquor store, and a beloved institution here in Louisville (if we do say so ourselves). Visit us in-store to chat all things bourbon and our local recommendations for Derby season, or shop online conveniently to get Derby-ready. We even offer one-hour delivery directly to your door! Remember, the best bourbons for Derby are the ones you enjoy, so prep your picks…the bourbon, the cocktails, and the horses. Cheers! By team@high10digital.com
