Belmont Jewel Cocktail

The Belmont Jewel Cocktail for the Belmont Stakes is a combination of bourbon, lemonade, pomegranate juice, and simple syrup. Easy and delicious all summer long!

While deciding to share the Belmont Jewel Cocktail with you, it brought up memories of the past when I used to go with a friend of mine to the racetrack. I was young and living on my own in an apartment when one of the guys in my building, Joel, became my pal. We were a most unlikely pair but it was definitely a case of opposites attracting.

Me; responsible, serious, hard working. Him; flighty, self-indulgent and seemingly without a job. But then I found he had a job. He bet on the horses. While I drove to an office for an 8-5 job he spent his days lounging by the pool, going to the track and a big part of his time was spent pouring over data to help him determine his next big win. Nice, huh?

I went to the track with him a couple of times and I bet on a horse he recommended. And I lost! I was crushed. I’m not sure what that $2 would equate to today; maybe $20…but that was it for me.

I found other ways to pick a winner, none of them successful (being the prettiest is not a real testament to speed!) and I’ve never bet actual money on another horse.

Now, more than betting on horses, I like to create the signature cocktails for the races that lead up to and celebrate the Triple Crown. The Mint Julep for The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, The Black-Eyed Susan for the Preakness at Pimlico in Baltimore, MD, and the Belmont Jewel for the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga, NY.

I’ve also included in a list below the most popular cocktail of them all, the Kentucky Oaks Lily, the signature cocktail for the Kentucky Oaks, a race run the Friday prior to The Derby where more of the Lily is sold than Mint Juleps on Saturday!

I invite a couple of friends over for the shortest party in existence. Show up for the race a couple of minutes ahead of time, grab the signature cocktail, watch the race and leave to go back to cutting the grass or washing the car.

I’ve been doing this for years and I’ll admit, my favorite moment was the year that American Pharoah won the Derby. No one went into the race with a favorite but from the starting gate I had a pick. Poor thing. Started in what was perceived as an unlucky outside gate and had to move quite a distance to the inside but he held his own. He stayed close to the lead and we all decided this horse was our hero; the little engine that could.

As the race came to a close and the leader stayed his ground it looked close but it was between the leader and ‘our’ horse and son of a gun; the horse whose name I had not known before the race took the win.

American Pharoah. I found out later he was a favorite but he was also fighting tradition. Starting in position 18, one horse scratched so he moved to number 17. No horse had ever won the derby from position 17. This was destiny! Too bad I don’t bet on horses but I lost that $2 once…never again!

Heading into the Preakness I continue with my short party tradition and my offering of that race’s signature cocktail. Not as well known as the Mint Julep, the Preakness has a signature cocktail called The Black-Eyed Susan, everyone knows the drill…grab a cocktail, make allegiance to a horse you have never studied up on like Joel, and wait for the finish.

One year we were all smart enough to pick a big favorite…and yeah, they were right, he won. Not as exciting as choosing an underdog!

The Belmont Jewel represents the third leg of the Triple Crown; the Belmont Stakes, held the first Saturday in June. Some might think of The Triple Crown as a series of races but I might think of it more as a series of cocktails!

The Belmont Jewel Cocktail is the current signature cocktail for the Belmont Stakes but unlike the Mint Julep’s association with the Kentucky Derby, and the Black-Eyed Susan’s long term affair with the Preakness, this race took some time finding their ‘signature.’

The Belmont Stakes has not had the same longstanding tradition with the Belmont Jewel. It has seen different cocktails come and go. Until 1997 the White Carnation was the signature cocktail; it was replaced by the Belmont Breeze, a complicated drink created by famed mixologist Dale DeGroff.

Though popular for a couple of years, the folks in charge decided a less complicated and easier to prepare drink would be more fitting; they do make tens of thousands of them each race day. Enter the Belmont Jewel which has been the signature cocktail for 25 years; turns out to have been a good decision and not just for staff. This version of the Belmont Jewel is also very popular with fans.

The Belmont Jewel combines bourbon, lemonade, and pomegranate juice, and not unlike the Mint Julep, is very bourbon forward. So much so that I actually prefer it a bit toned down with some sparkling soda; I like the fizz too. I’ve included that as an option in the recipe so it’s your call. If you’re not going back to cutting the grass, go for it!

I liked this cocktail. I think the name is befitting the third jewel in the Triple Crown and the ease of preparation speaks loudly to my party planner needs. Nearby on the first Saturday of June? Come on over for a party. We’ll be done by 4:30; let’s hope we can hoop and holler just a bit when my new favorite horse wins the whole doggone thing. Cheers!

Friday Race at Churchill Downs

• Kentucky Oaks – Kentucky Oaks Lily

Triple Crown Races

• Kentucky Derby
  • Classic Mint Julep
  • Roasted Pineapple and Rum Mint Julep
  • Sparkling Blackberry Mint Julep
  • Honey Peach Mint Julep
  • Strawberry Mint Julep
• Preakness – Black-Eyed Susan Cocktail

Kentucky Derby Dessert

• Kentucky Derby Chocolate and Walnut Pie

PIN IT! ‘Belmont Jewel Cocktail’