The Kentucky Derby Experience: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Derby Day in Scottsdale
Rob Anderson, Director of Catering & Outlet Sales
The Kentucky Derby Experience: The Ultimate Guide To Celebrating Derby Day In Scottsdale
Keep your friends close, and your bourbon closer. Here's the ultimate guide to celebrating Derby Day in Scottsdale this May 2023!
The Fashion
In stylish Scottsdale, fashion comes first and foremost on Derby Day. Bourbon Steak's Annual Kentucky Derby Lawn Party is a see-and-be-seen event, where the boldest hats, chicest spring dresses and most dapper suits take center stage. Have a stand-out statement hat? Make sure the rest of your outfit complements and doesn't detract attention from the star of the show. Have a midi dress with a great graphic floral print just begging to be worn? Pair it with a solid-colored fascinator that plays well with the color and detail.
Bourbon Steak Exclusive: However you dress, make it your best, because this party isn't complete without best dressed fashion contests for prizes!
The Drinks
Frosty, refreshing and oh-so-sophisticated, the Mint Julep has served as the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs since 1938. It also serves as the iconic welcome drink at Bourbon Steak Scottsdale's Kentucky Derby annual party! Here's lead bartender, Kenny Hansen's signature recipe:
- 2oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 1oz Simple Syrup
- 8-10 Mint leaves
- 1 Large crown of mint for garnish
- Crushed ice
- Julep tin
Additional items needed: Hawthorne strainer, bar spoon and mixing glass
- Express mint in hand by smacking and drop into mixing glass.
- Add your Bulleit Bourbon and Simple syrup to mixing glass and stir without ice.
- Strain mixing glass with Hawthorne strainer, making sure to catch the mint, into a julep tin with crushed ice.
- Express your crown of mint and place in drink for garnish with two straws.
Bourbon Steak Exclusive: All tickets include complimentary Moet & Chandon or Bulleit Bourbon Mint Julep as well as up to five additional beverages! Purchase tickets now!
The Menu
With a Kentucky Derby party at Bourbon Steak Scottsdale, every item on the menu is a guaranteed winner. Chef Sara Garrant embraces Southern-style favorites like smoked Andouille sausage sliders and Kentucky Hot Browns with traditional classics with a twist including smoked potato salad with sherry bacon jam and hot and spicy glazed shrimp with creamy polenta. But save room for dessert, because she's racing into the finish line hot with four (yes, four!) delights—Derby pie, carrot cupcakes, apple-rhubarb crumble and grits pie.
The Horses
…And they're off! Whether you bet on the one with the best name, or you've really done your due diligence in choosing a favorite, this day centers around the thoroughbreds. Who will it be this year? Epicenter? Zandon? Tiz the Bomb? Only the "fastest two minutes in sports" will tell.
Bourbon Steak Exclusive: Upon welcome to Millionaire's Row, each guest will choose a horse ticket. This is your horse to cheer on down the final stretch of that 1 ¼ mile racetrack. Prizes awarded to everyone holding a winning ticket! And don't forget to take your pictures with our real, live race horse on the lawn!
The Place To Be
If there's one thing you need to place your Kentucky Derby party in the winner's circle, it's attention to detail. From tackling the traditional Mint Julep and Derby Pie, to the lush floral arrangements and photo ops perfect for showing off your Derby-worthy ensemble, Bourbon Steak has thought of it all at its Annual Kentucky Derby Lawn Party. Buy tickets today here!