Basil Julep from Saveur

The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, so get out the seersucker suits and fancy hats! The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Derby, along with being one of my personal favorites. But you can also toy with tradition a bit and serve a twist on the classic Southern cocktail. One of these juleps could be just the cocktail for your Derby Day party:

Traditional Mint Julep ~ This simple drink is just bourbon, mint, simple syrup and ice. Yet a lot of people muck it up in attempts to make the drink “easier” when it isn’t that hard to make in the first place. This recipe and the tips at Imbibe will guide you in the right direction.

Basil Julep ~ Sub in some basil and Irish whiskey and you have a whole new drink that’s still just right for Spring, even if it has strayed from its Southern roots.

Celery Julep ~ Celery is surprisingly good in all manner of cocktails, even in juleps! This one is quite refreshing for a hot day at the races.

Ginger Peach Julep ~ Get a little fruit and spice into that julep! Ginger, peach and bourbon are excellent together.

Agave Julep ~ Since Cinco de Mayo and the Derby are on the same day this year, combine them! This is basically a tequila julep with a little basil to balance the flavor.