Hella Bitters, image courtesy of The Hella® Company

What to drink

One of the drinks you must make is obviously the mint julep, it is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.  It is classically served in a silver or stainless steel cup but it can also be prepared in a regular highball glass.  Libbey® has some beautiful Julep Cups that would be a great addition to your bar to really bring out the ambiance of the derby.  Try adding the Hella® Company’s Mint Julep recipe to your specialty drink:

Libbey® Julep Cup, image courtesy of Libbey®

Mint Julep

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz mint syrup (try Monin® Green Mint)
• 3 dashes Hella® Bitter Citrus
• crushed ice
• fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Combine bourbon and mint syrup in a shaker and stir without ice. Fill a julep cup with crushed ice. Pour bourbon mixture over crushed ice. A dash of citrus bitters on top. Carefully stick a couple mint sprigs into the cup so you have lots of leaves just above is. Enjoy their scent while drinking.

What to eat

The Kentucky Derby is all about southern traditions, and you know the south has some great food.  But when was the last time you thought to grab the bitters when making some food?  Bitters can be a great addition to your meal’s flavor profile.

For an appetizers and a snack that will be a hit throughout the party make some Caramel Popcorn with Aromatic Bitters.  It could be something brought out to every table instead of peanuts or chips.  It is a sweet way to get the conversations started and thinking about which horse each person would bet on.

Smokey Cheddar Grits, image by Morgan Hinton

For your main dish look at honoring Kentucky with some Kentucky style barbecue with a tomato-based sauce on pork or even mutton if you are so bold.  Then offer a side of Smokey Cheddar Grits, because grits aren’t just for breakfast, and can take on great barbecue smoky flavors while being a wonderful alternative to other grains.

For a fun final touch get your adventurous customers to try some Bitter Candied Bacon for dessert.  It could even be part of a contest to see how many guests can eat.  But we like to think is a great way to end the night for those bittersweet moments of fun with friends.

Off to the races

Now that you have some party ideas to throw a great Kentucky Derby party with the Hella® Company it is time to call your sales representative to see which of the Hella® Bitters for your party during May 7^th race!

The post Have a Hella good party with Hella® Bitters appeared first on Houston's Blog.