Brown Derby Cocktail

Name: Brown Derby Cocktail
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 drink
Ingredients: 2 ounces bourbon; 1 ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice; 1/2 ounce honey; Lemon wedge, for garnishing

Cocktails Los Angeles Area Academy Awards Bourbon Sweet Vermouth Lime Juice Drink Easy

Save (28)

Rate

1 drink Easy

Total: Under 5 mins Active: Under 5 mins

1 Rating

Ingredients (4)

2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce honey
Lemon wedge, for garnishing

Try Amazon Fresh

Get fresh food news delivered to your inbox

This suave blend of bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice, and honey was invented at the Vendôme bar in Hollywood in 1930, though it was named for the iconic 20th-century Los Angeles restaurant, notes cocktail expert Dale DeGroff in The Craft of the Cocktail. If you’re into brunch cocktails, the Brown Derby is perfect: tart enough to wake up the palate, but not tangy enough to jolt you. The bourbon, naturally, softens the edges of even a harsh start to the day.

For more, check out our Whiskey Sour, Sazerac, and Vieux Carré.

By Chowhound Editors

Instructions

1Add a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Add the bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey.
2Shake until the cocktail shaker looks frosty, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a lemon wedge, and serve.

Load Comments

Recommended from Chowhound

What's the Difference? Ale vs. Lager

(04:33)

Video from Food IQ

What's the difference between an ale and a lager? To find out, we visited Boomtown Brewery in Los Angeles, and met with Production Manager, Benjamin Turkel, to learn about the similarities and differences between the two beers. Benjamin took us through the different style points and production methods to learn ultimately what separates the two styles of brews.