• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Nerd Cooks
  • Recipe Index
  • Outside of the Kitchen
    • A Nerd Travels
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes for Spring
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes for Spring
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Cocktails

Derby Cup Cocktail

May 2, 2019 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I love it when you share my recipes!

61 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

The Derby Cup is a delicious cocktail to sip while celebrating Derby Day!

Derby Cup Cocktail | A Nerd Cooks

So, what is a Derby Cup Cocktail?

Good question! Basically, Derby Cup is what you'd get if a Mint Julep and a Pimm's Cup got together and had a baby.

For the uninitiated among us: Mint Juleps are the bourbon-heavy official drink of the Kentucky Derby. They're basically all bourbon, with some simple syrup and fresh mint.

A Pimm's Cup is made with Pimm's No. 1 (a liqueur made from gin, spices, and fruit juice), fresh fruit (think strawberries), and lemon-lime soda or ginger ale.

The Derby Cup combines all of the elements of a Mint Julep with the Pimm's and lemon of a Pimm's Cup. Et voila. Boozy and refreshing.

How should you serve this drink?

While it's not absolutely required, but I'd like to highly recommend serving this cocktail in some Julep cups. They're a classic choice for a Julep-type cocktail. They'll keep your drink frosty cold, too. Plus, they're pretty!

If you don't have Julep cups, or don't want to use them, use a Collins glass. Regardless, lots of crushed ice and fresh, fragrant, mint are pretty much mandatory.

Derby Cup Cocktail | A Nerd Cooks

Where did the idea for this delicious concoction come from?

This cocktail recipe comes from the cookbook Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion. Though the original recipe is, as the title of the cookbook might imply, for an entire pitcher of these drinks, I scaled it down to make a single cocktail.

Looking for more cocktails to sip while watching the Derby?

  • Try my Classic Mint Juleps!

✨ Recipe

Derby Cup Cocktail | A Nerd Cooks

Derby Cup Cocktail

Lauren Pacek
A Derby Cup Cocktail is what you'd get if a Mint Julep and a Pimm's Cup got together and had a delicious baby!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Additional Time 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 12 mins
Course Cocktails
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 1596 kcal

Ingredients
  

Mint Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves

Derby Cup Cocktail

  • 1 ¼ oz bourbon
  • 1 ¼ oz Pimm's No. 1
  • ¾ oz mint simple syrup
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3 oz club soda
  • fresh mint for garnish

Instructions
 

To make the Mint Simple Syrup

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water. 
  • Stirring occasionally, heat the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.  
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the mint leaves.
  • Allow the simple syrup to cool for an hour before removing the mint leaves and allowing it to cool completely.

To make the Derby Cup Cocktail

  • Add the bourbon, Pimm's, mint simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir gently.
  • Add the club soda and stir again.
  • Strain into a Julep cup that is filled with crushed ice.
  • Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Notes

  • You've seen simple syrup here before!

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 1596kcalCarbohydrates: 377gProtein: 1gSodium: 36mgFiber: 2gSugar: 365g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Keyword derby cup, mint julep, pimm's cup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Derby Cup Cocktail | A Nerd Cooks

Pin this recipe for later!

A Derby Cup is what you'd get if a Mint Julep and Pimm's Cup got together and had a baby #kentuckyderby #mintjulep #pimmscup #pimms #bourbon
A Derby Cup is what you'd get if a Mint Julep and Pimm's Cup got together and had a baby #kentuckyderby #mintjulep #pimmscup #pimms #bourbon

More Delicious Cocktail Recipes

  • two short glasses filled with blood orange margaritas
    Blood Orange Margarita
  • a pitcher of margaritas
    Margarita Pitcher Recipe
  • a nick and nora glass with raspberry martini in it on a gold tray
    Raspberry Martini
  • two large wine glasses filled with Hugo spritz cocktails
    Hugo Spritz

I love it when you share my recipes!

61 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura

    April 02, 2021 at 12:12 am

    I’ve hunted through several pages of this site and cannot find how much mint you recommend for the 1 cup of water + 1 cup of sugar simple
    Syrup. Where is this information? It’s frustrating and not easy to find.

    Reply
    • laurenpacek

      April 02, 2021 at 12:21 am

      You're absolutely right, sorry about that! It's 1 cup of fresh mint leaves. I've added it to the recipe card.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

More about me →

Recipes for Spring

  • a nearly head on view of 2 coupe glasses full of lavender martinis
    Lavender Martini
  • two glasses of lavender lemonade garnished with lemon wheels and lavender sprigs
    Lavender Lemonade
  • small jar filled with lavender simple syrup
    Lavender Simple Syrup
  • a glass of strawberry lemonade vodka cocktail garnished with mint
    Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
  • a 45 degree angle photo of two strawberry mojitos, a bottle with red strawberry simple syrup in the background
    Strawberry Mojitos
  • three stemless champagne flutes with red liquid and bubbles
    Rossini Cocktail

See More Recipes for Spring →

Popular Recipes

  • three shot glasses with green tea shots
    Green Tea Shot
  • Homemade Sour Mix | A Nerd Cooks
    Homemade Sour Mix
  • backlit view of 3 dirty shirley cocktails
    Dirty Shirley
  • three white tea shots on a brown wooden tray
    White Tea Shot
  • three baby guinness shots, with liqueur bottles in background
    Baby Guinness Shot
  • close up, straight on view of small bowl of dark cherries in foreground, old fashioned cocktail and bottle of luxardo liqueur in background
    Homemade Luxardo Cherries

Copyright © 2023 A Nerd Cooks on the Foodie Pro Theme

61 shares