10 food and cocktail recipes from experts for your at-home 2023 Kentucky Derby party

The 2023 Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 6 and that means it's time to saddle up and start planning your at-home party. If you're not quite sure where to start, Louisville entertaining mavens Peggy Noe Stevens and Susan Reigler have written a book filled with entertaining ideas and recipes called "Which Fork Do I Use With My Bourbon?"

It includes traditional Southern cocktails and appetizers that will take your 2023 Kentucky Derby party up a notch, from nontraditional mint juleps to everything from Kentucky classic Benedictine to cheese grits and corn pudding. (Plus, try the bonus recipe below from Kentucky's own Ale-8-One.)

Entertaining experts Tim Laid and David Danielson, the former executive chef at Churchill Downs, have also co-authored a Southern-inspired cookbook "The Bourbon Country Cookbook." The beautifully photographed book is filled with recipes from the historic racetrack and more that are just right for Kentucky Derby week festivities.

So what are you waiting for? Don't get left behind at the starting gate. You can never start planning a great Kentucky Derby party too early. Here are 10 food and cocktails recipes to try that are guaranteed winners.

Mint julep recipes 2023: What to know about the Kentucky Derby's signature cocktail

Traditional mint julep cocktail recipe

The traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby, the mint julep, is a must at any home Kentucky Derby party. This recipe is courtesy of "Which Fork Do I Use With My Bourbon?"

1 serving

• 1-ounce simple syrup

• 3 to 5 fresh mint leaves plus a fresh sprig for garnish

• 3-ounces Kentucky bourbon

• Crushed ice

To make the simple syrup, add 2 cups of granulated sugar to 1 cup of boiling water. Cool, bottle and refrigerate. You can do this the day before the party.

To make the julep, place the simple syrup and mint leaves in the bottom of a julep cup or glass. Muddle. Add bourbon and stir.

Fill to the brim with crushed ice, add a long straw and garnish with a mint spring.

Note: if you are using mint-infused bourbon, don't use the muddled mint leaves.

Other mint julep cocktail recipes

Spice up your traditional mint julep offerings with these four unique twists on the classic cocktail:

Pineapple Julep: Muddle a tablespoon of chopped fresh pineapple with mint leaves and use 2 ounces of bourbon and 1 ounce of pineapple juice.

Strawberry Julep: Add 3 fresh chopped strawberries to the bottom of the glass along with the mint and syrup and muddle.

Chocolate Julep: No muddling needed here. Simply combine 2 ounces of Kentucky bourbon, 1 ounce white crème de menthe, and 1 ounce dark crème de cacao; shake over ice, and pour into a stemmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Peach-Basil Julep: Use fresh basil leaves and a split vanilla bean to make the simple syrup. Add two 5 ½-ounce cans of peach nectar to the syrup. Muddle a peach slice instead of mint.

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Bourbon Bloody Mary cocktail recipe

The Bloody Mary cocktail is an afternoon tradition on Kentucky Derby day. A nice drink to break up an afternoon of mint juleps. This recipe is courtesy of "Which Fork Do I Use With My Bourbon?"

1 serving

• 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, paprika mix

• 2-ounces bourbon

• 2 large lemon wedges

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 can (6-ounces) tomato juice

To prepare the seasoning mix, combine in a mortar one part each smoked sea salt, smoked black pepper and smoked paprika. Finely crush with a pestle and shake together in a jar.

To a pint glass or a large mason jar filled with ice, add the bourbon, squeeze and drop in the lemon wedges and add 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mix and Worcestershire sauce. Shake. Add more ice and tomato juice. Shake again.

Garnish with a long straw and baby corn, large pitted black olive and cherry pepper, all on a stick.

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Jubil8 cocktail recipe

For a Kentucky cocktail to its core, Ale-8-One is known to bring back its traditional horse racing-themed Kentucky Derby packaging. For your themed at-home party, enjoy the Kentucky-born beverage on its own or as a mixer.

• 2 teaspoons Ale-8 infused simple syrup

• 6-8 mint leaves

• Crushed ice

• 1.5 ounces bourbon

• 1 bottle Ale-8

Gently muddle simple syrup and mint leaves in a silver julep cup. Fill the cup with crushed ice. Add bourbon and fill the cup with Ale-8. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

More: A Louisville original: Here's a Kentucky Benedictine spread recipe for the Kentucky Derby

Cheese Grits recipe

Serves 6. Courtesy of "Which Fork Do I Use With My Bourbon?"

• 1/2 cup stone-ground grits

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick butter)

• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• Cayenne pepper to taste

• 3 eggs separated