The Belmont Jewel
The Belmont Jewel is the official drink of The Belmont Stakes. The Belmont Stakes held at Belmont Park Elmont, New York is the third leg of the Triple Crown. It is the oldest of the three races in the Triple Crown, but the official drink has not held the test of time quite like the third leg.
The History of the Belmont Stake’s Official Drink
According to Americasbestracing.net the Belmont Stakes’ official drink – name and ingredients – has changed three times over the last 11 years. They are not as big on tradition as the Derby or Preakness.
According to the same website. Up until 1997, the White Carnation – a splash of cream mixed with vodka, peach schnapps, and orange juice – was the official Belmont Stakes drink. It was replaced in 1998 by the Belmont Breeze, coined by the head bartender at Manhattan’s Rainbow Room, Dale DeGroff.
Degroff went by the Colonial recipe for whiskey punch: “One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak” to create the tasty concoction made of mint, orange, cranberry, bourbon, and sherry. This switch-up was said to have come up to help draw a younger crowd with a drink more suited to their tastes.
From what we can tell the most recent change, happened in 2012 to make the drink easier to prepare for the masses. Either way, we are not complaining because we love a good bourbon drink.
While the official bourbon of Belmont Park is Woodford Reserve, feel free to mix it up with some of the great Texas Bourbons available. Maybe even add some smoked ice for a nice variation of the refreshing cocktail.
The Belmont Jewel
1.5 oz Bourbon
2 oz Lemonade
1 oz pomegranate juice
Shake vigorously with ice and serve in a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.