A Day at the Races:: Kentucky Derby Party

Hi Everyone! It's Nicole, Annette's web-manager here. I don't know about you, but the Kentucky Derby is my unofficial start to summer. One of my very best college girlfriends is from Lexington, Kentucky, and she instilled a love for the race in us while we were in school.Even though I've only gotten to have one trip to Churchill Downs for the run for the roses, there's something about the Kentucky Derby that keeps me intrigued year after year. Maybe it's the beautiful horses or the fabulous fashion...or maybe it's the the Mint Juleps. Either way, it's such a quintessential, classic event.This year, I'm planning to watch the races with friends. Who knows? Maybe we'll don fun hats and chic sundresses for the occasion, too. I've already started thinking about decor, food, and beverages for the day, and of course, I've turned to Annette for all of the details.Annette's tips for hosting a Kentucky Derby party cannot be beat. I love her ideas for decor like including vintage horse trophies and ribbons, sprinkling in plastic horses here and there, and making sure roses make an appearance. To plan a party of your own, you can find her full list of tips here.And a Kentucky Derby party wouldn't be complete without a classic cocktail, and what's more appropriate than a Mint Julep? A splash of simple syrup and a whole lot of Bourbon makes for one sinfully sweet sip.

Classic Mint Julep by Becky Staynerserves 1

You will need:- Crushed ice- 2 oz. good Bourbon- 1 oz. simple syrup- 6 leaves of fresh mint + fresh mint for garnishTo prepare:Make the simple syrup by bringing one cup of water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir in one cup of sugar till it dissolves. Once it’s chilled, stir in mint leaves to steep overnight (a trick from Annette's friend, Becky). Put crushed ice, bourbon, and mint leaf simple syrup in a julep cup. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. Don’t crush the leaves! Be gentle…after all, this is a Southern drink.xo, Nicolephotos by Leslie Graham