Brown Derby recipe
Bourbon, grapefruit, and honey make a bright, dry Los Angeles sour with plenty of backbone.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Daiquiri Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 1/2 oz Honey Syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part warm water)
How to make a Brown Derby
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice, and honey syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 12 seconds.
- Fine strain into the chilled coupe.
- Express grapefruit oil over the surface and garnish with the twist.
Garnish
Grapefruit twist.
Pro tip
Honey needs to be thinned into syrup or it will sit at the bottom of the shaker. Do not try to dissolve it in a cold drink.
History of the Brown Derby
The Brown Derby is associated with the Vendôme Club in 1930s Hollywood and was named after the famous hat-shaped Brown Derby restaurant. It is one of the rare bourbon sours where grapefruit is the star citrus.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Honey, Oak, Tart
Variations
- Rye Brown Derby — Use rye whiskey for more spice and a drier finish.
- Smoked Brown Derby — Rinse the coupe with a lightly peated Scotch before straining.
- Brown Derby Highball — Pour over ice in a tall glass and top with a little soda.
Practise making the Brown Derby in the free Virtual Bar game.