The Kentucky Derby always reminds me of what it would be like to go to an event when my grandparents were my age. Everyone got dressed up and wore amazing hats and were just so much fancier than I will ever be. That's another reason I love derby inspired cocktails. While I usually reach for recipes that require few ingredients this cocktail is still insanely simple to construct even though it takes a bit of time on your part.

The addition of Four Roses Small Batch takes this Julep from standard to extraordinary. The bourbon perfectly balances out the sweetness of this cocktail and the cucumber water ice cubes make it seriously refreshing. Whip this up this derby inspired sip and you can enjoy the sweet taste of summer anytime. No hat or bets required.

Julep Al Fresco

Ingredients

• 2 oz Four Roses Small Batch bourbon
• 3/4 Spiced Melon Syrup**
• 8-10 Mint Leaves
• Lime
• Cucumber Water Ice Cubes***

Julep Directions

Add all of your ingredients into a shaker. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with your cucumber ice cubes. Garnish with a mint leaf.

**Syrup Recipe

• 2 C water
• 2 C sugar
• 2 Serrano Peppers, seeds only
• 1/4 C Honey Dew Melon
• 1/4 C Cucumber slices

Heat water in saucepan and add sugar. Stir until dissolved. Steep Serrano seeds and cool. Refrigerate overnight with small slices of melon and thinly cut cucumbers inside your mix

***Cucumber Ice Recipe

Using a juice extractor remove as much juice as you can from slices of cucumbers. Put them into an ice cube tray and allow that juice to freeze overnight.

* Recipe courtesy of Jacquelyn Pobst of Doc Crow's bar in Louisville, KY