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
Scale
Pitcher (serves 12)
- 3 Cups Vodka
- 3/4 Cup Lemon Juice
- 3/4 Cup Simple Syrup (see notes)
- 1 1/2 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
- 1/2 Ounce Lemon Juice
- 1/2 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
