Not traveling south to watch the Kentucky Derby from the Churchill Downs infield on Saturday? No worries.
Brynn White, a Louisville native turned Brooklynite, has been hosting an annual Derby bash at her Clinton Hill apartment for the past five years.
“I have taken it upon myself to educate people about the fine, underestimated and misunderstood land that I hail from, and essential to that is preaching the gospel of the holy trinity: bourbon, horse racing and college basketball,” says White, who works at the New York Society Library.
Here, she shares her tips for hosting a fun, easy Derby do.
Make a winning spread
Mint Juleps
“We always have a julep station, complete with mallet, ice-crushing bags, cups that frost over and recipe instruction,” says White, who adds that crushed ice is essential to the drink.
To make the drink, first prepare the mint syrup. Boil 2 ½ cups filtered water and 2 ½ cups of pure cane sugar for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until well dissolved. Fill a large Mason jar with spearmint leaves, very loosely. Do not crush. Let simple syrup cool, then pour over mint leaves. Cap the jar, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Strain out leaves, and store the syrup chilled until ready to use.
To prepare the julep, add 1 table-spoon of spearmint-infused simple syrup to a glass or small Mason jar, then fill with crushed ice. Pour 2 ounces of Bulleit bourbon over the ice. Stick in a straw for mixing. Garnish with a spearmint sprig.
Beer Cheese
“Beer cheese is most cherished as a bar-side booze accompaniment in Kentucky,” says White. “Hence, a ubiquitous staple at Derby parties.”
In a deep bowl, crush 1 ¹/₂ teaspoons finely chopped garlic into a paste. Beat in 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ¹/₂ teaspoon Tabasco, ¹/₂ teaspoon dry mustard and ¹/₂ teaspoon salt. Stirring constantly, pour 1 cup of beer in a slow, thin stream. (Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is great if you can find it! But flat, low-grade beer works just fine and is, in fact, better than anything fancy.)
When well blended, beat in 4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture is smooth. Pack cheese tightly into a sealed container and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Serve with crackers and pretzels.
“Not Derby” Pie
Kern’s Kitchen in Prospect, Ky., owns the name “Derby Pie” for its chocolate-nut tart, but White says Kentuckians make similar versions, like this one.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ¹/₂ cup flour and 1 cup granulated sugar. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 stick melted butter. Mix until well combined. Next, stir in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans. Pour mixture into 1 unbaked Pillsbury pie shell and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool until set.
Bobby’s Bourbon Balls
“My friend Faye’s grandfather made whole batches of these every spring and gave them out to anyone who would have them,” recalls White. “It was most kids’ first introduction to Kentucky nectar.”
Combine 1 cup finely chopped pecans and 5 tablespoons bourbon in a bowl. Set aside and let soak for at least 15 minutes, but the longer the better. Meanwhile, in a mixer, cream ¼ pound butter.
After the butter is creamed, slowly add 1 pound powdered sugar a little bit at a time until well mixed. Next, mix the nuts and bourbon into the butter and sugar. Seal mixture in a plastic container and let chill for a few hours.
When ready, roll mixture into balls the diameter of a quarter. Cover with plastic and put the balls in the freezer overnight. Also, put a box of toothpicks in the freezer.
Line cookie sheet with wax paper. In a double boiler, add ½ cup coconut oil to 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Stir continuously until smooth. Take 5 balls and 5 toothpicks out of the freezer at a time. Stick the toothpicks halfway into the balls. Dip balls into chocolate mixture at an angle so candy will not slide off the toothpick. Place on cookie sheet, removing toothpick.
After all candies are dipped, place in freezer and let harden. Keep cool until ready to eat. Makes about 60 bourbon balls.
Benedictine
This creamy green spread has been a Derby staple for more than 100 years.
Combine 12 ounces cream cheese, 1 grated cucumber, 1 grated onion, 1 teaspoon salt, a pinch of cayenne pepper and 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Add a drop of green food coloring. Stir and serve as tea sandwiches or as a veggie dip.
Henry Bain Sauce
The eponymous recipe of a longtime maitre d’ at Louisville’s elite Pendennis Club, Henry Bain sauce has been dressing Derby-day meats since its creation in 1881, White says.
Divide 3 pounds of roast beef among 3 packages of Martin’s 24-pack potato rolls for slider-size sandwiches. Then, in a bowl, mix a 17-ounce jar of Major Grey’s Chutney with one 14-ounce bottle of ketchup, one 10-ounce bottle of Worcestershire, one 12-ounce tomato-based chili sauce (like Heinz) and a dash of hot pepper sauce. Serve sauce alongside sandwiches for guests to smear on at their leisure.
Have guests place their best bets
A betting board is essential, but you have to know your guests when it comes to arranging the pool.
“It’s really just a decision over who you’d rather accommodate — the skittish Derby virgins, or the more game folks and [avid] gamblers,” White says. “We used to draw horse names for a few bucks a pop until some folks complained over not getting to pick the horse. Now I construct a poster with the full lineup and morning-line odds and let people pay $5 a pick and write in their name next to it, splitting the pot if multiple people go for the same horse.”
Make everyone dress the part
White strongly encourages her guests to don festive attire — bold colors and big hats for women, snappy ties and sharp blazers for men.
“The Derby is a liberating opportunity to throw off the winter coat you’ve been mired in and a chance to wear chapeaus, gloves, colored shoes and a brilliant spring color,” she enthuses.
And, even if you don’t win the betting pool, the right outfit ensures you have a good time.
“As my mother says, ‘One cannot be somber in seersucker even with a pocket full of losing tickets.’ ”
For guests who show up in casual clothes, White keeps an old suitcase full of Derby hats and accessories near the door.
“People are reticent to climb on the subway in millinery, but once they step inside the party they feel insecure without it,” White says.
“No one ever comes back the next year without some added panache.”
Play some songs from the south
To set the mood, White recommends playing songs such as “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Foster, “Blue Moon of Kentucky” by Bill Monroe, “Kentucky Gambler” by Dolly Parton, “Louisville, KY” by Ella Fitzgerald, “One Mint Julep” by the Clovers and “Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones, which mentions the Derby and has a special place in her memory.
“It’s one of the first tunes from my youth that seemed to acknowledge the event as a universal holiday,” White says.