Derby
Muddle; Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 27.6% ABV ∙
The Derby is a stirred gin cocktail of muddled mint, London dry gin, peach bitters and sugar syrup, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the base of the stirring glass, lightly muddle: Fresh mint leaves 5 pcs
- Add the remaining ingredients: London dry gin 60 mlPeach bitters 2 dashesSugar syrup 5 mlChilled water 10 ml (opt.)
- Stir with ice
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a mint leaf
Tips
- Muddle the 5 mint leaves on their own in the stirring glass and press lightly; torn leaves make the drink taste grassy.
- Stir with ice for about 15-20 seconds. The 10 ml of chilled water is optional; add it only if you want to take the edge off the gin.
History
The Derby is a gin cocktail built on gin, peach bitters, and fresh mint, distinct from the later bourbon-based Brown Derby. Its earliest known appearance is in Harry MacElhone's 1927 book Barflies and Cocktails, where he attributes the recipe to E. G. DeGastreaux of Cincinnati and dates it to 1903. The drink was picked up three years later in Harry Craddock's 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, which helped cement the bittered-gin-and-mint formula as the standard version still referenced today; the International Bartenders Association carried it on its official list until 2020.
FAQ
What is a Derby cocktail?
A gin and mint cocktail: London dry gin stirred with lightly muddled mint, peach bitters, and a little sugar syrup, then strained into a chilled coupe. It comes in at about 28% ABV.
What is the Derby cocktail made of?
Fresh mint, London dry gin, peach bitters, and sugar syrup, plus an optional splash of chilled water to take the edge off the gin.
How do you make a Derby cocktail?
Lightly muddle the mint in a mixing glass, then add the gin, peach bitters, sugar syrup, and optional chilled water. Stir with ice and fine-strain into a chilled coupe with a mint leaf.
What glass is a Derby cocktail served in?
A coupe glass, served up with no ice in the glass and garnished with a single mint leaf.
Is a Derby cocktail shaken or stirred?
Stirred. The mint is muddled first, then everything is stirred with ice and fine-strained, which keeps the drink clear and free of mint fragments.
