Belmont Jewel co*cktail (2024)

Published: June 6, 2014 | Last Updated: June 6, 2024
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A drink for the races, the Belmont Jewel co*cktail is the #1 drink for toasting the Belmont Stakes horse race. Bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate juice served over crushed ice make for a fruity punch that’s delicious all summer long.

About this Belmont Jewel co*cktail recipe

If you’re celebrating any leg of the American Triple Crown horse races, you’re going to need a co*cktail.

The last race in this horse race trio is the Belmont Stakes, which means the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes are behind us. It’s always fascinating to see if a horse will win the entire trio.(It hasn’t been done since the horse Justifywon in 2018, so it will be a big deal if another guy and his horsecan pull it off!)

Did you know there’s an official co*cktail for each leg of the Triple Crown races? There’s the julep for the Kentucky Derby and the Black Eyed Susan for the Preakness Stakes

Today we’re making the crown jewel of these drinks: the Belmont Jewel recipe, the official co*cktail of the Belmont Stakes. This race is typically held on the first or second Saturday in June.

More derby drinks: Woodford Spire • Kentucky Oaks Lily • Kentucky Mule

Why you’ll love this recipe

The Belmont Jewel is a bright, fruity and refreshing co*cktail. You’ll love it because…

• The Belmont Jewel is super easy to put together.
• It’s a fun drink for watching the Belmont Stakes, but it’s delicious all summer long.
• If you’re not a fan of the Derby’s bourbon drinks, this vodka co*cktail will be so refreshing.

The Triple Crown Drinks

For all of the races, I thought it would be fun to share recipes for the official drinks of each, and today’s the final leg in this relay.

First, in honor of the Kentucky Derby, we have the classic mint julep, which is a strong, classic co*cktail made with fresh mint, sugar and sweet Kentucky bourbon. (I also have a virgin mint julep recipe that’s great for non-drinkers.)

Next up is the PreaknessStakes, held between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Its official drink is the Black-Eyed Susan co*cktail. This one is a vodka drink with elderflower liqueur and pineapple, lime and orange juices.

To round out the trifecta of Derby co*cktails, there’s the Belmont Jewel co*cktail made with bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate juice. But it wasn’t the first of the official Belmont Stakes co*cktails.

Belmont Jewel history

In addition to the current Belmont Jewel co*cktail, the Belmont Stakes has had a plethora of other co*cktail recipesover the years, a stark departure from the mint julep’s fame at the Derby.

Adrink ofvodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and cream, called the White Carnation, was the official drink until 1998, when bartender Dale DeGroff brought the Belmont Breeze onto the scene with its complicated combination of whiskey, sherry, soda and lemon, orange and cranberry juices. Then, in 2011, the Jewel came onto the scene.

The Belmont Jewel co*cktail is both simpler and more unique in flavor than its two predecessors. It has small-batch bourbon, pomegranate juice and lemonade.

These ingredients go so well together. The lemonade brings a touch of sweet-and-sour, pomegranate brings more tartness and the whiskey has its oaky, smoky undertones. It’s a very well-balanced drink.Though I’ve always been a julep fan, this one totally strikes my fancy!

Ingredients

The Belmont Jewel is a simple three-ingredient drink. Here’s what you’ll need:

• bourbon: An American bourbon whiskey brings sweet layers of woodiness, vanilla and caramel.
• lemonade: Sweet and sour, lemonade adds a punch of citrus for balance.
• pomegranate juice: Tart pomegranate juice has a kick of robust berry flavor.
• lemon garnish: You could use a lemon twist, slice or wedge to finish off the drink.
• co*cktail cherry: I prefer a co*cktail cherry (I make my own co*cktail cherries!)

Best bourbon

To make this signature drink, you’ll need a really good whiskey. If you have a favorite, use that! If not, choose something from the middle-shelf so it doesn’t break the bank, but isn’t cheap (or cheap-tasting).

I prefer a 90-proof bourbon like Woodford Reserve bourbon. That one has been the official whiskey of the Belmont Stakes in the past.

Sponsorships change from year to year: Knob Creek, Woodinville and Redemption bourbons have all been featured. At my house, we like Old Forester, Four Roses and Maker’s Mark.

Instructions

I’ll totally be enjoying one of these bourbon co*cktails all summer long, whether it’s horse-racing season or not. If you will, too, you’ll need to know how to make it!

1. First, fill a highball glass with crushed ice and set aside.
2. Then add ice cubes to a co*cktail shaker. Add the bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate juice.
3. Vigorously shake them all together to chill the drink and combine the ingredients well.
4. Strain the co*cktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with a co*cktail cherry, lemon wedge or a lemon twist.

Tips & tricks

Around 12,000 of these signature drinks will be served at the Belmont Stakes, so if you’re making them at home, you want them to be the best. Here’s what I do.

• Use a high-quality bourbon for the best flavor.
• Make your own lemonade with fresh lemons so you can control the sweetness. It’s so refreshing.
• Don’t forget the garnish! A lemon twist (and a co*cktail cherry if you like) adds fragrance as you sip the drink and enhances the overall experience.
• For a derby party, stir up a big batch in a pitcher so you don’t have to shake drinks all day long.

FAQ

More Derby co*cktails

The julep is a fun co*cktail to play with. The Basil Julep, for example, is a variation made with basil simple syrup.

If you like juleps, you should also check out the Honey Mint Julep, the Irish Whiskey Mint Julep, theChocolate Mint Julep and theBlackberry Mint Julep.

You could also enjoy another bourbon drink like a strawberry Kentucky buck or a simple old-fashioned.

And if you just love sports co*cktails, why not try Wimbledon’s Pimm’s Cup or the Masters Tournament’s Azalea co*cktail?