Lynnie's Libations: The Preakness Stakes ~ Black Eyed Susan

Black~Eyed Susan

(Makes 2 large or 4 small drinks)

5 oz Bourbon (I used Makers Mark)

1 1/2 oz Vodka (I used Kettle One)

6 oz House-Made Sweet & Sour Mix

(see recipe below)

4 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

(Thanks MaryLynn Franzia for sharing fruit from your tree!)

1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

(2 oz of you prefer a more tart drink, as I do)

Pour all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, pour in small Mason jars, garnish with cherries

you can also add a Bourbon float to this drink

Citrus is so variable in terms of sweetness, so you may need to adjust the recipe to your taste. You may need to add extra juice, or a little more Bourbon or simple syrup. I put all the ingredients in the cocktail shaker, and before I serve it, I pour a schoch into a small glass to taste and then make the necessary additions.

CHEERS!

The Preakness Stakes is the second race, after the Kentucky Derby and before the Belmont Stakes, in the Triple Crown. This is the official drink of the Preakness. I love Mint Juleps, the drink of the Kentucky Derby, but each race has an official drink and I finally tried this one. Watching California Chrome, which is from near where I live, was so exciting! And that local win was made all the sweeter with a dark-eyed Susie in my hand.
Another reason for my affection for this drink is because of the flower it is named after. My mother pointed these whimsical flowers out to me as a child, and they were abundant in Montgomery, Alabama where I grew up. They, along with most flowers, remind me of my mom and my grandmother.