Nothing says it's the Friday before Derby (aka Oaks Day) like having a cold, sweet, and tart Kentucky Oaks Lily in hand! This homemade version ditches the premade mixes and keeps it simple with just five ingredients—vodka, freshly squeezed lemon juice, homemade simple syrup, triple sec, and cranberry juice. Served over crushed ice in a stemless wine glass and topped with juicy blackberries, it’s as pretty as it is delicious. Whether you're mixing up a single sip or a big batch for your Derby party guests, this Kentucky-inspired cocktail is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! The pitcher serves 12.
The Famous Oaks Day Drink
The week before Derby is so much fun! Living in Louisville and being born and raised in central Kentucky, there is truly nothing like it. And while we were lucky enough to go to the Derby and Oaks the day before - we usually attend a Derby party one of our friends throws.
Being a Kentucky southern cook, I always offer to bring a Derby-inspired dish like 10 minute pimento cheese dip or the irresistible Kentucky bourbon pecan and chocolate dessert bars or an oven-baked hot brown casserole to feed lots of mouths.
But this year I am going to bring a large batch of Oaks Lily cocktail. This is the signature cocktail served on Oaks Day (the Friday before Derby), which arguably is just as big of a deal as Derby Day is. Its signature pink color and sweet taste complement the traditional color to wear to Oaks (pink) in honor of Breast awareness, the Lillies flower garland, and the fillies that race that day.
Let me walk you through how I make it!
Welcome to my studio, let's make a cocktail together!
First up - the large batch pitcher version.
To serve, fill a stemless wine glass with crushed ice and pour the cocktail over the top. Have a dish of toothpicks with blackberries on them and lemon peel twists for each guest to garnish their own drink.
⭐️ You could also serve this in a drink dispenser with a spout (alongside a large batch of Kentucky Mint Juleps with bourbon). Mix up the same way and then your guest can just serve out their amount in their own glass over ice - making a beautiful presentation for your party. (affiliate link)
The second option - a single serving cocktail.
Recipe
Large Batch Kentucky Oaks Lily with Vodka
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Nothing says it's the Friday before Derby (aka Oaks Day) like having a cold, sweet, and tart Kentucky Oaks Lily in hand! This homemade version ditches the premade mixes and keeps it simple with just five ingredients—vodka, freshly squeezed lemon juice, homemade simple syrup, triple sec, and cranberry juice. Served over crushed ice in a seamless wine glass and topped with juicy blackberries, it’s as pretty as it is delicious. Whether you're mixing up a single sip or a big batch for your Derby party guests, this Kentucky-inspired cocktail is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
Pitcher (serves 12)
- 3 Cups Vodka
- ¾ Cup Lemon Juice
- ¾ Cup Simple Syrup (see notes)
- 1 ½ Cups Triple Sec
- 6 Cups Cranberry Juice
- 1 Cup Sparkling Water
- Crushed Ice
- 12 Toothpicks with Blackberries and Lemon Peel for garnish
Single Serving
- 2 Ounces Vodka
- ½ Ounce Lemon Juice
- ½ Ounce Simple Syrup (see notes)
- 1 Ounce Triple Sec
- 4 Ounces Cranberry Juice
- Crushed Ice
- Toothpicks with Blackberries and Lemon Peel to Garnish
Instructions
For a Pitcher (Serves 12):
- In a large pitcher, combine vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, triple sec, cranberry juice, and sparkling water. Stir well to mix.
- Fill the rest of the pitcher with crushed ice. Stir again.
- Fill stemless wine glasses with crushed ice and pour the cocktail over the top.
- Garnish each glass with a toothpick of blackberries and a twist of lemon peel. Serve immediately and enjoy!
For a Single Serving:
- In a stemless wine glass combine vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, triple sec, and cranberry juice. Stir well to combine.
- Fill with a little bit of crushed ice and stir again to chill. Fill the glass with more ice to fill.
- Garnish with a toothpick of blackberries and a lemon peel twist. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- I used actual cranberry juice, not cranberry juice cocktail.
Simple Syrup Recipe
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Sugar
- In a medium-size saucepan, add the water and sugar. Turn on medium heat.
- Bring to a low boil and let cook for 10 minutes. It will reduce down to a thick syrup over that time. Stir at the beginning to help dissolve the sugar.
- Once the time is up, remove from the heat and pour into a mason jar or airtight container (if not glass let it cool first).
- Store in the fridge and use in any drink or cocktail that needs to be sweetened.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Drinks - cocktail
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 322
- Sugar: 33.6 g
- Sodium: 4.5 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 34.3 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
DISCLOSURE. SOME OF THE LINKS BELOW ARE AFFILIATE LINKS, WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU CLICK ON A PRODUCT LINK, I MAY RECEIVE COMPENSATION. THIS COMPENSATION COMES AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, AND AS ALWAYS I ONLY RECOMMEND PRODUCTS I TRUST! HEATHER BILYEU IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.