You don’t need to go to Churchill Downs to enjoy this Kentucky Oaks Lily Cocktail. This light and refreshing vodka cocktail with cranberry juice, lemon juice, and triple sec is the perfect addition to your Kentucky Derby Party.
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Kentucky Oaks Lily
While the classic Mint Julep is the official drink for the Kentucky Derby, the Oaks Lily cocktail is the signature drink of the Kentucky Oaks. Kentucky Oaks is the race that takes place the day before the Kentucky Derby. It’s a race for female horses, and each year the track is covered in pink for breast cancer awareness, thankfully we have this lovely pink cocktail from it.
When I make this drink one of my favorite twists is to add a splash of cranberry Lacroix to top it with.
Why You’ll Love this recipe:
- Light and refreshing cocktail
- Perfect on a warm day
- Perfect hot pink color
- Can be batched easily for any summer barbeque
Equipment Needed
Highball glass– These are traditionally served in a high glass, a stemless wine glass could work too.
Shaker– You need a shaker to fully mix the drink and cool it with the ice.
Measuring cup– You’ll need one that has ounce measurements. You can also use a traditional bar jigger.
Key Ingredients
You’ll need:
- Cranberry Juice– This is going to be the base of your drink.
- Vodka– Any high-quality vodka will work, I used Grey Goose.
- Orange Liqueur– Something like Cointreau or Grand Marnier
- Lemon Juice– It doesn’t have to be freshly squeezed.
- Simple syrup– This drink can lean a little tart, so I add just a dash of Simple Syrup.
- Ice– It has to be cold of course.
Find the full list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions in the recipe card below!
Tips & Tricks
- Add a dash of Cranberry Lacroix to top it off. It makes a lovely Oaks Lily Spritzer
- Freeze little pieces of lemon into ice cubes for a little something extra.
Instructions
Prep your garnishes. For this, we are using fresh blackberries on a cocktail pick, you can also use an orange wedge or lemon wedge.
Then start assembling your drink by adding cranberry juice to your shaker, along with orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and ice. Give the drink a good shake.
Add ice to your highball glass, and pour your freshly made Oaks Lily drink over the ice. Then add your garnish to your Oaks Lily glass.
Make Ahead
This is a great cocktail to make in a large batch.
For a batch, add:
- 64 oz container of cranberry juice
- 1 cup Vodka
- 1 cup Lemon juice
- 1/2 cup Orange Liquer
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
Oaks Lily Mocktail Recipe
4 oz Cranberry Juice
2 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz alcohol free triple sec
1 oz Cranberry sparkling water
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Kentucky Oaks Lily
Equipment
- highball glasses
- cocktail shaker
- measuring cup in ounces
- cocktail pick for garnishes
Ingredients
- 3 oz Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Orange Liqueur
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Simple syrup
- Ice
- Orange optional garnish
- Lemon optional garnish
- fresh blackberries garnish
Instructions
- Prep your garnishes. For this, we are using fresh blackberries on a cocktail pick, you can also use an orange wedge or lemon wedge.
- Then start assembling your drink by adding cranberry juice to your shaker, along with orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and ice. Give the drink a good shake.
- Add ice to your highball glass, and pour your freshly made Oaks Lily drink over the ice. Then add your garnish to your Oaks Lily glass.
Notes
- 64 oz container of cranberry juice
- 1 cup Vodka
- 1 cup Lemon juice
- 1/2 cup Orange Liquer
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
Oaks Lily Mocktail Recipe
- 4 oz Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz alcohol free triple sec
- 1 oz Cranberry sparkling water