Kentucky Derby Drinks

Derby Days

Where: Firebox Restaurant, Hartford
What’s in it: Maker’s Mark Kentucky bourbon whiskey, duo of mint (house-made mint simple syrup, sprig of fresh mint) and one frosted cup
Damage: $9

William Faulkner, on the other hand, preferred bourbon.
   
And if you prefer the brown stuff, then Firebox has a drink for you, too. Called the Derby Days, it’s pretty much just a glass of bourbon with a splash of the house-made mint simple syrup, garnished with a sprig of fresh mint in a metallic glass.
   
The Derby is an extremely stiff drink—not one of those colorful, fruity cocktail concoctions that you can ideally sip at the bar while looking cool and chatting with friends. No, this is the type of drink that requires an awful lot of concentration and determination to finish.
   
If you want to remember this year’s Kentucky Derby, however, you might be safer sticking with just the one…at least until after the race.