Family-Friendly Kentucky Derby Party
Tips for a family-friendly Kentucky Derby gathering.
The other day, I had a FaceTime call with my 6 year-old niece. “Saturday is May 1st,” she said, “that means it’s also Derby Day!” She then invited me to her Kentucky Derby party, which she’s holding with her sister and my parents. I’m still strongly considering her invitation, even if it is three hours away.
This isn’t a Derby when I’m up for going to the track. I’m so glad the race is on for people who want to attend, but my Covid experience has left me both still wary of crowds and not fully able to wear a mask for long periods of time. I’m skipping the track this year, but a fun, family-friendly Kentucky Derby party sounds fabulous. I’ve put together some ideas for a fun outdoorsy party — I love that there’s nothing fancy or overwhelming about it, it’s full of Kentucky traditions, and it’s as much fun for a 6 year-old as it is for the rest of us!
I kept the decorations simple, using things that could withstand a spill or a drop. I love this inexpensive pin display banner for the bourbon/mint julep and Derby Festival pins I’ve acquired over the years. It tells a fun story of past events we’ve loved and adds a cute little vintage touch to a tree!
I used an old quilt as a tablecloth and grabbed a few kids’ jockey hats in the Derby Party section at Kroger to use as party favors. I also found a vintage Louisville Stoneware Derby-themed flower pot that was perfect for the occasion!
I kept the menu simple as well — mini Derby Pies from Kern’s Kitchen, pimiento cheese and Benedictine sandwiches, crudités with Hall’s Beer Cheese, and Woodford Reserve Bourbon Balls. All of these dishes are traditional Kentucky favorites, and all I had to do was assemble the sandwiches and cut up the vegetables. I used my Stoneware & Co Bachelor Button dishes to continue the theme of a traditional Kentucky event!
Of course, I had to have mint julep ingredients on hand — including bottles of Woodford Reserve and Old Forester for those who choose to imbibe and Ale-8-one for those who don’t. I love freezing some Ale-8 until it’s a slushy consistency then serving over crushed ice with a mint sprig for a julep mocktail that everyone can enjoy!
If you’re looking for recipes, or if you want to take a sure-to-be-appreciated hostess gift, Chef Ouita Michel’s new cookbook, Just a Few Miles South, is the absolute best! Ouita is one of my very favorite people, and her first-ever cookbook is filled with the Kentucky Comfort Food we all love at her restaurants! It would also be a great prize if your party does a Derby Horse Pool or other games!
Cheers to Derby, however you choose to celebrate this year!
How to Curate a Home Bourbon Bar
Tips for summer entertaining from HerKentucky and Stoneware & Co!
Today is National Bourbon Day!
Here in Louisville, it seems like every day is National Bourbon Day. The bourbon industry is booming, with tours and culinary experiences and so many amazing tributes to Kentucky’s favorite spirit. And, of course, there’s nothing like enjoying a bourbon at home with your friends and family. Today, I’ve teamed up with Stoneware & Co. to provide you some great tips for curating your home bourbon bar, featuring Stoneware’s stunning Embossed Running Horse serving pieces! (Check out the end of this post for a Bourbon Day gift to y’all from Stoneware and HerKentucky!)
Step #1: Keep a range of flavors!
Here’s the thing. You don’t need to spend a fortune stocking your bourbon bar. Yes, there are some fabulous high-end, high-priced selctions. But there are also some great entry-level bourbons that your guests would love to enjoy with you. You just need to know a little bit about your bourbon. I suggest that you start with a range of flavors by mixing up the mash bills in your collection. Federal law mandates that, to be called a bourbon, a whiskey’s mash bill, or recipe, must consist of at least 51% corn. The remaining 49% of grains in the mash bill contribute strongly to the flavor of the bourbon. As a general rule, a mash bill that contains wheat will provide a sweeter note, while the addition of rye provides some spice. The biggest trend in whiskey right now is barrel finishing — finishing a bourbon in a second barrel, whether it’s a different oak barrel, a custom-staved barrel, or a barrel that once housed a different spirit. I like to keep a couple of “finished” bourbons on hand to provide a different tasting experience. And, while it’s not an actual bourbon whiskey, I like to keep one or two rye whiskeys on board (produced at Kentucky’s distilleries, of course!) to accommodate those folks who like a truly spicy whiskey. At my house, Bob especially likes ryes for cocktails. Here is a great overview of popular mash bills.
Step #2: Select a range of proofs.
Proof is an indicator of the alcohol content by volume. In the U.S., this is indicated as a number representing double the alcohol percent. So, for example, an 86 proof bourbon is 43% alcohol. Obviously, a lower proof will result in a less intoxicating substance. Some folks prefer to sip on low proofs, while others like a higher. If you’re entertaining a group of true bourbon drinkers, you’ll want to have a couple of proof options to meet different tastes. Here’s a fun fact: In blind taste tests, it’s often found that female bourbon drinkers will prefer a higher proof.
Tip # 3: Don’t forget the finishing touches!
While many bourbon purists drink the product straight, your home bar should also include bitters and vermouth for popular cocktails like the Manhattan. You’ll also want to stock up on sugar cubes, oranges, maraschino cherries, and mint for garnishes. I’ve recently seen a lot of creative cocktails that utilize more savory herbs like basil and rosemary — the sky’s the limit! (Check out my sorority sister Heather Wibbels’ award-winning basil julep recipe here!!) I also love to have plenty of simple syrup on hand. I usually make a double batch of simple syrup — using a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water — and separate it into halves. One stays as simple syrup for drinks like an Old-Fashioned, while the other is mixed with lemon juice to make a sour mix. I love Stoneware’s 1 quart Bar Pitcher for serving syrup —it’s so easy to pour your desired amount into each cocktail!
Tip #4: Serve water and Ice in style!
Here in Louisville, we’re fortunate to have the very best tap water — it’s actually won awards! In fact, Kentucky’s water supply is pretty special. The rich limestone throughout central Kentucky provides the clear-tasting water that first made our bourbon special, and that nourishes our famous racehorses. Of course, no bourbon bar is complete without ice and a pitcher of water. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to drinking bourbon — some folks like to dilute their spirits with just a drop or two of water, and some folks prefer a few — or a lot — of ice. I love Stoneware’s Embossed Running Horse Bar Pitcher and Ice Bucket to serve up water and ice in style. The best part is that these pieces, along with the julep cups, can be stored in the freezer so they’re appropriately chilled for maximum serving efficiency!
Tip #5: Keep some snacks on hand!
Don’t forget to have some snacks on hand to both compliment the flavors of the bourbon and to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach! Play with flavors you like to pair with bourbon , from salty cheeses to dark chocolate! It’s amazing how well so many different tastes coax out amazing notes in your whiskey!
Stoneware has graciously provided a coupon code, valid through June 20th at midnight, to help y’all stock up your own collection of handmade Kentucky pottery. Use code BOURBONBAR at online checkout, in store, or on phone orders to take 10% off your purchase!
Cheers, y’all! Let me know how your favorite tips for entertaining with bourbon!
(Stoneware & Co provided me with products for use in this post; as always, all opinions are my own. In fact, I collected Stoneware far before I had the opportunity to collaborate with them!)
The HerKentucky Guide to Black Friday
Five great Black Friday sales
I know, I know. Y'all have seen a million, zillion Black Friday promos. And a trillion blogs about where you should shop. I won't waste a ton of your time; just wanted to alert you to five of my favorite sales!
Draper James
The Scoop: 25% off site wide with code Merry. (And 25% of all sales today goes to Girls, Inc.)
What to buy: Stock up on holiday party dresses for yourself and fun holiday gifts for your friends!
L.L. Bean
The Scoop: 25% off Bean Boots today with code Friday25. 20% off clothing and outerwear through Tuesday with code Thanks20.
What to buy: Classic Bean Boots. Holiday pajamas.
Pomegranate, Inc.
The Scoop: 50% off site wide today only with code Special50
What to buy: Table linens for holiday gatherings; cashmere blend ponchos.
Quest Outdoors
The Scoop: 20% off in-store and site wide with code FryDay2017
What to buy: Barbour coats and scarves!
Stoneware and Company
The Scoop: 10% off site wide with code BlackFriday10.
What to Buy: Classic Bachelor Button place settings. Christmas pottery.
What deals are you shopping today?
HerKentucky's Holiday Wish List for the Sports Fan
Great gift ideas for the Kentucky native and sports fan on your holiday list!
Here in Kentucky, we love our college sports teams a lot. Our loyalties are pretty intense, and we never tire of finding new ways to rep our teams. Here are the HerKentucky picks for the very best gifts for your favorite sports fan!
Tervis Tumbler Water Bottle. I LOVE mine; I carry it everywhere. This UK Logo bottle will please any Wildcats fan!
Kentucky Wildcats Business Card Holder by Louisville Stoneware. What a fun way to bring your team loyalty to the office with you! Contact Stoneware for customization options.
Tipsy Elves UK Ugly Christmas Sweater. They call it "Ugly"; I think it's pretty cute. Either way, it's the most unique piece of Kentucky Wildcats swag I've seen in a while. (Available in ladies' and men's styles!)
Louisville Stoneware U of L Cardinals Salt and Pepper Shakers. The cutest Cardinals I've ever seen, and a perfect keepsake for your favorite Louisville fan.
University of Kentucky needlepoint cufflinks by Smathers and Branson. So preppy and cute!
Louisville Cardinals Women's Red Metallic Thread Scarf. Stay warm at the Belk Bowl!
Clayton & Crume L1C4 keychain. This is simply adorable. Heavy canvas twill affixed to high quality leather and made right here in Louisville.
For the ridiculous UK fan who has everything, how about a Rupp Arena replica dog bed? I can assure you that I'd be getting these for my own dogs if they made 'em big enough.
This EKU Tervis Tumbler is perfect for the Colonels fan on your list. I think Santa may bring this one to my dad...
Tickets to the UK - U of L Basketball Game. It's a long-shot, I know. The tickets are astronomical. But, something tells me that this game will be worth it. If you find any good leads, let me know.
U of L Fingerless Gloves. How cute are these?
A Trip to the Bahamas to watch WKU in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. If that isn't feasible, then how about the sweatshirt for the event?
Clayton & Crume #BBN keychain. So nobody forgets you're part of Coach Cal's #lafamilia.
Louisville Cardinals Needlepoint Flask from Smathers and Branson. The cutest way to sneak a nip.
We're so excited to give away a few of these amazing presents to lucky HerKentucky readers. Clayton & Crume has provided us with a UK keychain and a U of L keychain, and Tipsy Elves sent us a ladies' sweater! Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below!
Good luck, and Happy Holidays from HerKentucky!
HerKentucky's Holiday Wish List for the Bourbon Lover
The best holiday presents for bourbon lovers
Most Kentuckians have at least one serious bourbon lover on their holiday gift list. Many of us have plenty of bourbon lovers who'd just adore a present that celebrates Kentucky's signature spirit. Here are the absolute best pieces of bourbon swag I've seen this year; I'm sure the folks on your holiday list would agree!
Grandpa's Cough Syrup Needlepoint Flask, Smathers & Branson. What a hilarious way to transport a little nip!
HerKentucky's Shot of Bourbon Tee. If you'd rather be somebody's shot of bourbon than everybody's cup of tee, we've got the right shirt for you!
A bottle of 23 year-old Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve. Why not shoot for the good stuff?
Drink More Bourbon, Y'all Leather Coasters by Clayton & Crume. These are gorgeous, high-quality waxed leather coasters with an important embossed message.
Subscription to the Bourbon Review. The best way to keep up with the latest labels and trends in bourbon.
A bottle of Willett Pot Still Reserve. This high-corn and rye blend is getting great reviews.
I'd Rather Be Drinking Bourbon Mug, Louisville Stoneware. This is on my own letter to Santa this year. Why not serve up your morning coffee with a shot of truth?
An individual bourbon barrel with your favorite team's logo, Bluegrass Barrels. Dispense your favorite blend from a unique tabletop barrel.
Bourbon and Bad Decisions Tee, Bourbon Built. Y'all, I just love this. It gets straight to the point.
23-Year Pappy Long-Sleeved Tee, Pappy & Co. If you can't give a bottle of Pappy, this gorgeous shirt is the next best thing.
We've teamed with some of our very favorite Kentucky-based brands to help you (or your favorite bourbon lover) out a little. We're offering y'all three exciting bourbon swag giveaways. You can enter to win a Bourbon & Bad Decisions tee, a Pappy & Co long-sleeved tee, or a set of 4 Clayton & Crume leather coasters using the Rafflecopter widgets below.
Cheers, y'all!