Thank you for crowning The Winner

March 22 - April 5

Four Roses and the Kentucky Derby Festival partnered together for the 18th Annual Rose Julep Cocktail Competition.

Select mixologists competed for the top honors of Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice awards. The creative mixologists handcrafted julep recipes all their own, using Four Roses Small Batch, along with an array of unique ingredients.

Click on the photos below to view the recipes of each cocktail.

Voting is Now Closed

Rose Julep Cocktails

This Drink is ...
B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Lexington, KY

This Drink is ...
B-A-N-A-N-A-S

The Thirsty Fox

Ingredients

6		Muddled Mint Leaves
¼	fl oz	Simple Syrup
1	fl oz	Banana Puree
½	fl oz	Hiram Walker Creme de Cacao
2	fl oz	Four Roses Small Batch
2	dashes	Aztec Chocolate Bitters

Directions

In a mixing glass, muddle mint leaves and simple syrup. Add banana puree, crème de cacao, Four Roses Small Batch, Aztec Chocolate Bitters with ice and shake vigorously. Double strain over fresh ice and garnish with dried banana chips.

Blanket In A Park

Lexington, KY

Blanket In A Park

Goodfellas Wise Guy Lounge

Ingredients

2	sprigs	Muddled Mint Leaves
2	fl oz	Four Roses Small Batch
¾	fl oz	Blackberry, Balsamic Vinegar, Orange Blossom Water Gastrique*
1	fl oz	Pinot Noir Floater

Directions

In a mixing glass, muddle Gastrique with mint. Add Four Roses Small Batch and shake hard with ice. Double strain over fresh crushed ice. Pour pinot noir on top. Garnish with red/white checkered parchment paper "blanket", mint sprig topper and a slice of French baguette with St. Andre Triple Cream Cheese.

*Blackberry, Balsamic Vinegar, Orange Blossom Water Gastrique

Place 1 cup muddled blackberries, 1 cup balsamic vinegar and 1 cup granulated sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil then turn temperature down to low heat stirring constantly until thick. Strain into a bottle or jar and discard blackberries. Add ½ teaspoon of orange blossom water to your syrup and stir. Refrigerate until ready to use.

The Zing a Ling

Louisville, KY

The Zing a Ling

Martini Italian Bistro

Ingredients

2	fl oz	Four Roses Small Batch
1	fl oz	Lingonberry Shrub*
½	fl oz	Fresh Squeezed Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
2	slices	Raw Ginger
3	dashes	Rhubarb Bitters

Directions

Add all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and shake vigorously. Double strain over fresh ice. Garnish with lingonberries.

*Lingonberry Shrub

Mix 2 cups of fresh lingonberries and 1 cup simple syrup in blender on high speed until fully broken down. Pour contents into a fine mesh strainer and push through. This technique should yield a nice semi thick juice. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and whisk.

Aztec Julep

Louisville, KY

Aztec Julep

La Chasse

Ingredients

2½	fl oz	Four Roses Small Batch
¾	fl oz	Homemade Roasted Pineapple-Chipotle Syrup*
½	fl oz	Fresh Lemon Juice
1	sprig	Muddled Mint Leaves
1	spritz	Bittermen’s Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Directions

In a mixing glass, gently muddle mint leaves with pineapple-chipotle syrup and lemon juice. Add Four Roses Small Batch and shake briefly with 1 or 2 large ice cubes. Double strain into julep cup or tiki mug filled with fresh crushed ice. Top with more crushed ice. Spritz with Bittermen’s Xocolatl Mole Bitters. Garnish with large bunch of mint, basil and a fresh slice of pineapple.

*Homemade Roasted Pineapple-Chipotle Syrup

Peel and core 1 pineapple. Cut into chunks and roast in oven until the edges are slightly blackened. Remove from oven and place roasted pineapple chunks in large saucepan. Add 1½ cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1½ cup Chipotle powder (or to taste). Simmer, stirring frequently, for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. Let cool and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Blue House, Blue Corvette

Covington, KY

Blue House, Blue Corvette

Rich's Proper

Ingredients

2	fl oz	Four Roses Small Batch
6-8		Mint Leaves
1	fl oz	Blueberry Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout Reduction
½	fl oz	Black Tea Syrup*
1	bar spoon	Maple Syrup
3	dashes	Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
		Cherrywood Smoke

Directions

In a mixing glass, gently muddle mint leaves and black tea syrup. Add blueberry reduction, Four Roses Small Batch, orange bitters, maple syrup, and ice to the mixing glass and stir with spoon vigorously. Strain into a mason jar, add cherrywood smoke and cover with lid for 1 minute. Swirl contents in the mason jar and then serve over fresh crushed ice. Garnished with mint and blueberry ash powdered sugar.

*Black Tea Syrup

Steep Crème brulee black tea in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Bring tea to a rolling boil and stir in 1 cup demerara sugar. Reduce heat and stir gently until it creates a syrup-like consistency. Once cool, pour into a bottle or jar. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Four To Post

*To try this cocktail at home
check out Lauren’s video below.

Four To Post

Ingredients

1½	fl oz	Four Roses Small Batch
¾	fl oz	Strawberry-Mint Shrub*
½	fl oz	Peach Nectar
¼	fl oz	Triple Sec
4	dashes	Orange Bitters

Directions

Fill a double Old-Fashioned glass with crushed ice and Four Roses Small Batch, strawberry-mint shrub, peach nectar, Triple Sec, and orange bitters. Stir briskly to combine and chill. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and orange peel.

*Strawberry-Mint Shrub

Add 1½ cup cleaned and chopped strawberries, 1 cup of champagne vinegar, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 6 to 7 large mint leaves to a pan. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. After about 10 minutes, use a potato masher and mash fruit to release more juice. Simmer until it thickens and becomes a syrup like consistency. Strain into a bottle or jar. Refrigerate until ready to use.

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Participating Locations

Thirsty Fox
at Zim's Cafe

215 W. Main St. #50
Lexington, KY 40507

Goodfellas
WiseGuy Lounge

1228 Manchester St.
Lexington, KY 40504

Martini Italian
Bistro

4021 Summit Plaza Dr.
Louisville, KY 40241

La Chasse

1359 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40204

Rich's Proper

701 Madison Ave.
Covington, KY 41011

What's in it for the winners?

Judges' Vote

1st

Place

$1,000

2nd

Place

$750

3rd

Place

$500

People's Choice

1st

Place

$1,000

2nd

Place

$750

3rd

Place

$500

Thank you for crowning The Winner

March 22 - April 5

Voting is Now Closed

This Drink is ... B-A-N-A-N-A-S

This Drink is ... B-A-N-A-N-A-S

The Thirsty Fox

Ingredients

Directions

Blanket In A Park

Blanket In A Park

Goodfellas Wise Guy Lounge

Ingredients

Directions

*Blackberry, Balsamic Vinegar, Orange Blossom Water Gastrique

The Zing a Ling

The Zing a Ling

Martini Italian Bistro

Ingredients

Directions

*Lingonberry Shrub

Aztec Julep

Aztec Julep

La Chasse

Ingredients

Directions

*Homemade Roasted Pineapple-Chipotle Syrup

Blue House, Blue Corvette

Blue House, Blue Corvette

Rich's Proper

Ingredients

Directions

*Black Tea Syrup

Four To Post

Four To Post

Ingredients

Directions

*Strawberry-Mint Shrub

Participating Locations

What's in it for the winners?

Judges' Vote

People's Choice

Wanna make these at home?

Cheers, and may the best cocktail win!

Don’t forget: Be mellow. Be responsible.

This Drink is ...
B-A-N-A-N-A-S

This Drink is ...
B-A-N-A-N-A-S