My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Derby

Derby in a coupe, drawn with its ingredient layers

Derby recipe

StirredCoupeNo ice36% ABV

The Derby is a stirred whiskey cocktail, made with bourbon, Bénédictine and Angostura bitters, served in a coupe. It is spirit-forward.

Strength: about 36% ABV in the glass, roughly 24 g of alcohol per drink (an estimate; brands and dilution vary).

The Waldorf-Astoria version: bourbon sweetened with Bénédictine. Several other drinks share the name.

Derby ingredients

Bourbon60 ml (2 oz)
Bénédictine7.5 ml (¼ oz)
Angostura bitters2 dashes

Measures for one serve. Open the drink in Bar Bible to scale it to a batch or switch to ounces.

How to make a Derby

  1. Add everything to a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
  2. Stir until very cold, about 30 seconds.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Glass
Coupe
Ice
None, served up
Garnish
Lemon twist
Open Derby in My Bar Bible

Part of

Stirred cocktails

Derby: quick answers

How strong is a Derby?
About 36% alcohol once the ice has melted in, roughly 24 g of alcohol per drink. That is an estimate: brands and dilution vary.
What glass is a Derby served in?
A coupe, with no ice in the glass.
How many ingredients does a Derby have?
3 in total: bourbon, Bénédictine and Angostura bitters. Simple enough to make at home.

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