Derby recipe
The Derby, otherwise known as the sour-style Derby, was first published in the Bartender’s Guide in 1947, but nothing much else is known about the cocktail.
By Kris Barton · Updated - 2 mins total
- 5 ingredients
- Cocktail glass
This combines lime and orange flavours, which are blended perfectly with Bourbon and Vermouth to produce something magical.
What Ingredients do you need to make a Derby?
Bourbon
Bourbon is a type of Whiskey. It was created in America and is a barrel-aged distilled liquor that’s made primarily from corn.
The name Bourbon originates from the French Bourbon Dynasty, but how this type of American whiskey got that name is up for debate.
Major contenders include:
- Bourbon Street in New Orleans
- Bourbon County in Kentucky
…with the latter the reason why Bourbon is so closely connected to Kentucky.
Interestingly, by law, Bourbon sold in the US must be produced in the US, be made from at least 51% corn, and stored in a container of charred oak.
For Bourbon, we recommend:
Vermouth
Vermouth is an aromatic fortified wine that’s flavoured with various botanicals and is sometimes coloured.
Traditionally, Vermouth was used for medicinal purposes (we’ve heard that one before, am I right guys?) but was later served as an aperitif in fashionable Turin cafes in the mid to late 18th century.
By the 19th century, it’d become popular with bartenders in the creation of fancy cocktails such as the Martini, the Manhattan and the Rob Roy, and later the Negroni.
Triple Sec
Triple Sec is a style of Orange Liqueur and you can read more about it in our detailed article.
For Triple Sec, we recommend:
What Equipment do you need to make a Derby?
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bond says “shaken, not stirred”. And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed cocktail shaker comparison.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
Cocktail Glass
This cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
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Recipe card
Derby
- Prep
- 1 min
- Making
- 1 min
- Total
- 2 mins
- Serves
- 1
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
Ingredients
Makes 1 drink.
Method
- Add ice, bourbon, sweet vermouth, triple sec, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake well.
- Strain into cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a wedge of lime.
Want more like this? Browse our full collection of modern cocktails.
Derby FAQs
What does a Derby taste like?
Lime and orange, blended with bourbon and sweet vermouth. The orange comes from the triple sec.
What Ingredients do you need to make a Derby?
To make a Derby, you need 30ml / 1oz bourbon, 15ml / 0.5oz sweet vermouth, 15ml / 0.5oz triple sec and 20ml / 0.75oz lime juice, plus lime wedge to garnish. There’s more about bourbon, vermouth and triple sec above.
What Equipment do you need to make a Derby?
You’ll need a cocktail shaker and a cocktail glass.
What alcohol is in a Derby?
A Derby contains 30ml / 1oz bourbon, 15ml / 0.5oz sweet vermouth and 15ml / 0.5oz triple sec.
Is a Derby shaken or stirred?
A Derby is shaken. Shake it with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain it into a cocktail glass.
Can I make a Derby without a cocktail shaker?
A cocktail shaker is best, but a clean jam jar with a tight lid works too. Add ice and the ingredients, screw the lid on and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds, then strain it into your glass through a small sieve.
What glass is a Derby served in?
Serve a Derby in a cocktail glass.
How do you garnish a Derby?
Garnish a Derby with a wedge of lime.
How do I make a Derby for a group?
The recipe makes one drink. Multiply every measure by the number of drinks you want: for 4, you’d need 120ml bourbon, 60ml sweet vermouth, 60ml triple sec and 80ml lime juice. Shake one or two drinks at a time, so there’s room in the shaker for the ice.
