This is your official call to post for the Keeneland Breeze.
The Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky is a famous and historic site for Thoroughbred horse racing. Keeneland opened in October of 1936 and has trained, sold, and raised some of the best names in racing since. Despite its long history through, the Keeneland cocktail is a fairly new arrival.
Following in the footsteps of the Mint Julep, Belmont Jewel, and the Black-Eyed Susan, Keeneland decided it was high time to add an official cocktail to its racetrack. And so, they turned to Maker’s Mark to get things started. Just a few minutes down the road from Keeneland, Maker’s Mark is one of the biggest names in bourbon and an obvious sponsor/creator of the track’s alcoholic treat. The distillery got to work and found a mixture that really works – one that of course, includes Maker’s Mark.
The final Keeneland Breeze is a winning trifecta of bourbon, orange liqueur, fresh orange juice, and ginger ale. The drink is easy to mix and dangerously easy to drink on a balmy race day. The original formulation belongs in any bartender’s winning circle, but you can get creative at home and sub the Maker’s Mark in for a similar bourbon or rye, use any orange liqueur you have on hand, or even swap ginger ale for ginger beet to create a Kentucky Mule variation.
So whether Keeneland is in session or not, kick back, pour yourself a Keeneland Breeze, and pick your winning ponies.
Keeneland Breeze
Equipment
- 1 Rocks Glass
Ingredients
- 1¼ ounces Bourbon
- ¼ ounce Orange Liqueur
- Ginger Ale (to top)
- 1 slice Orange (garnish)
Instructions
- In a rocks glass filled with ice, add 1¼ ounces of Bourbon and ¼ ounce of Orange Liqueur. Stir gently to combine.
- Squeeze one fresh slice of orange into the rocks glass.
- Top the drink with cold ginger ale.
- Garnish with the orange slice.
