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Cocktail History
The Brown Derby is a classic cocktail that was created in the 1930s at the Vendome Club, a social hangout owned by Hollywood Reporter founder Billy Wilkerson. It’s considered to be an American variation of the De Rigueur, another vintage drink first made in France, and it is traditionally made using the sour formula with just three ingredients—bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey. Its name comes from the hat-shaped restaurant that used to be on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. I used Buffalo Trace Distillery Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Grapefruit Juice: This is the liquid juice of a grapefruit. I used freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
Honey Syrup: This is a sweetener made with honey and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Grapefruit Twist: This is the peel of a grapefruit that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Brown-yellow color
• Aroma: Grapefruit and spices
• Taste: Sweet bourbon flavor accented with honey and tangy citrus
• Finish: Lingering honey and whiskey spices
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I had never tried a Brown Derby before this tasting but had tried the De Rigueur. I remember not liking that one at all, mostly because I don’t like the taste of Scotch. Because the Brown Derby is made with bourbon though, I found it to be a lot easier to drink, especially since it’s sweetened by the grapefruit juice and honey. I would make this again. It’s a great recipe for someone like me who wants to appreciate the taste of bourbon without it burning the back of your throat; this is well-balanced so you only feel a hint of the burn as you’re swallowing.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-22.
Brown Derby
The Brown Derby is a classic cocktail that was created in the 1930s at the Vendome Club, a social hangout owned by Hollywood Reporter founder Billy Wilkerson. It's considered to be an American variation of the De Rigueur, another vintage drink first made in France, and it is traditionally made using the sour formula with just three ingredients—bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey. Its name comes from the hat-shaped restaurant that used to be on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Ingredients
Method
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Add bourbon, grapefruit juice, honey syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with grapefruit twist.
