Ah, bourbon, that sublime nectar of the gods.  We at JBE love bourbon any way you want to serve it.  But for Derby week?  We need a bourbon cocktail recipe that can be made ahead and serve a house full of guests.  Punch is making a big comeback in the cocktail and entertaining world for this very reason.  Dump all of the ingredients in a big bowl and the mixing is finished!  This bourbon punch is sure to be on your list of favorites!

Bourbon Punch

by Jennifer Brian Cheek

2 cups Bourbon

1/3 cup Ruby Port

1/3 cup Cointreau

1 3/4 cups Sherry

1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice

3 bottles sparkling wine, cava, or prosecco

1/2 cup simple syrup

Orange and lemon slices for garnish

Into a freezer safe, lidded container, pour one bottle of sparkling wine.  Add orange and lemon slices and freeze for at least 24 hours or until solid.  To assemble the punch, in a large punch bowl, add all ingredients and stir.  Turn out frozen sparkling wine ice block into the bowl to keep punch chilled.

More Derby Week fun is coming up in our next post!  Stay tuned for our Oak's Day festivities that include a great brunch and backside track access!

With Easter Brunch this weekend, we have the perfect champagne cocktails to pair with any menu!  We take a fresh look at three standard champagne cocktails and dress them up for brunch. 

In our Lavender Peach Bellini, our culinary lavender tincture sends this Bellini to the next level.  The subtle flavor of the herb balances out the sweet, making this your new favorite brunch cocktail.  

Lavender Peach Bellini

makes four drinks

1/2 cup peach puree 

1 Tbs culinary lavender (available at specialty spice stores)

2 Tbs boiling water 

Prosecco

Steep lavender in 2Tbs boiling water for 30-45 min. Strain lavender essence into peach puree and stir to combine.  Divide puree among 4 champagne flutes.  Top with Prosecco.

Our French 75 adds Limoncello to the traditional standard cocktail, giving it a new level of lemon.  Once you have had JBE's French 75, you won't want to go back.  

French 75

makes one cocktail

1.5 ounces Gin

1 ounce Limoncello

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Splash of simple syrup

Prosecco or Sparkling Wine

In a cocktail shaker with ice add the first four ingredients.  Shake well and strain into a champagne flute.  Top with Prosecco or sparkling wine.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

There is little here at JBE that we love more than bourbon.  This cocktail combines all of our favorite things in one glass.  We use honey syrup in place of simple syrup to give this drink a mellower sweet.

Bourbon Orange Fizz

makes one drink

1.5 ounces bourbon

5-6 dashes orange bitters (we recommend Fee Brothers or Reagans')

1/2 ounce honey syrup *

Prosecco or Sparkling Wine

In a cocktail shaker with ice add first three ingredients and stir- don't shake.  Strain into champagne flutes and top with Prosecco or sparkling wine.  Garnish with orange twist.

* To make honey syrup, mix local raw honey with boiling water in a ration of 1:4, honey to water.  Stir until honey is melted and completely combined.  Store in an airtight container and use in place of simple syrup.

If the tulips and daffodils are blooming here in Louisville, that means Derby is only a few weeks away!  There is nothing better than ushering in the long awaited warmer weather with mint juleps and fabulous hats.  

Here in Louisville, there is no wrong way to do Derby.  We love the track, but tickets to the Derby are harder to acquire than tickets to the Superbowl (and just as expensive).  Our favorite way at JBE is the true local way- throwing a fabulous house party.  Here are the things you need to make your guests swoon that first Saturday in May as you host a Derby party like a pro.

~A Great Bar~

If there is anything we are known for here in the Bluegrass in addition to horses, it is the finest bourbon in the world.  Our signature drink for Derby is the Mint Julep.  Not a fan?  How about a Bourbon Slush instead?  No matter the cocktail, the bar should be set to shine.  It will, undoubtedly, be the center of the festivities.  A variety of good bourbons- both for mixing and for sipping, should be set.  Fun julep cups and interesting containers for ice or mint syrup draw guests in, encouraging them to help themselves.  Pre-printed recipes in picture frames can help guide the way for signature event cocktails.  Fresh mint dusted in sugar peeking out of julep cups and homemade mint syrup make our juleps the envy of mixologists everywhere.  Festive buckets icing beer and wine will keep the party going.  The key to cocktails for the masses is preparing your ingredients ahead of time, having the ingredients in fun-to-use containers, and making them readily available on the bar.  

~Fabulous Food~

With eleven or more races throughout the day, guests will be between the TV, the food, and the bar.  Appetizers tend to work well for the day or some fancy grill work is also a sure thing.  Pretty serving pieces make the day feel special.  Don't want to do all of that cooking?  Caterers love to do special parties like Derby or simply carry out your favorite BBQ.

~A Way to Bet~

The races are fun, but having a wager on them makes it even more raucous as the races are run.  Racing programs (available online here and at local liquor stores) and $1 bets for a winner-take-all jackpot for each race are a fun way to keep everyone cheering.  Don't know anything about handicapping?  No problem!  Cut up a program and draw horses instead or start a "Let it Ride" jackpot where you bet the favorite every race and if it wins you "let it ride, baby".  OTB websites are also a great way for the more serious gamblers in the crowd to still be plugged in at the track while partying with friends.  Setting up online betting accounts doesn't take long and wagering can happen until a couple of minutes before post time.

~Entertainment for the Kids~

If the little ones are invited, some activities for them like stick horse races and a "decorate your own jockey silk" craft would be a great way to keep them entertained in between the races.  They love to cheer as much as the adults and the pageantry of the day isn't lost on them.  Delegate a craft idea to one of the parents coming for the day to minimize your own prep.

~Above all RELAX~

One of the keys to having any great party is about preparation.  As much do-ahead as possible keeps you out of the kitchen and with your guests.  Setting up the bar for "self serve" keeps the bourbon flowing while not shackling you as bartender.  The day can be as dressed up or down as you like.  Enjoy your guests!  That's why you hosted the party, after all!  Build a bourbon, don a hat, sing a verse of "My Old Kentucky Home" and bet a race.

Interested in having us throw your party?  Contact JBE and let us help you win, place, and show for the day!  

A poolside birthday party filled our holiday weekend.  We were thrilled to be throwing a party with one of our very favorite clients, that happens to also be a BFF.  She has a remarkable vision and it was a joy to help bring her dream party for her brother to reality.

She wanted a light fare menu that included passed appetizers that you could nibble on while in the pool or lounging near it.  Appetizers included watermelon bites with feta, fresh mint, and balsamic glaze, prosciutto wrapped melon, Gazpacho shooters, mini Hot Browns, and Ngiri.

Dinner included a seafood trio of butter poached shrimp skewers on cheese grits, crab and avocado cups, smoked salmon on cucumbers with creme fraiche and dill, and an arugula salad.

Dessert was Grand Marnier soaked berries with fresh whipped cream.  

The evening included an after dinner cigar bar, some swimming, and late night homemade ham and cheese sliders.  I believe the birthday boy was happy.  It was such fun to work side by side with some fabulous ladies that made the day go by with laughter and champagne.  We even had time for our own dip in the pool before the evening started.  We can't wait to do it again.

Nothing is more fun than having all of your people around you for overnight events and that is what we planned for a wonderful couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  The event was held in West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana and is a glorious historic hotel that is elegant while being completely accessible and family friendly.

Guests arrived Friday evening and received beautiful gift baskets and agendas upon check in, telling them where to be and filled with snacks and wine for the weekend.  They then boarded a private shuttle for the neighboring property, French Lick Springs Resort, for some bowling and pizza to kick off the weekend.

Guests returned to their hotel at their leisure and a Dixieland Band played from the porch of the hotel, setting off all of the gorgeous flora.

Saturday morning brought some adult breakfast time while the kids went horseback riding.  

Flowers were designed by the host of the weekend, as he is a retired floral designer/shop owner and has fantastic taste.  We provided helping hands to process the 7 dozen roses and additional 6 buckets overflowing with lilies, white stock, peonies, orchids, and greenery that made up the 22 arrangements of the event.

Gold frames held menu cards and the couple brought their own gold flatware to top off the spectacular tables of gold and white.

Hand made party favors held gold dusted Jordan Almonds and gold foil chocolates for guests to take home.

Cocktail hour was held outside on the sweeping veranda of the hotel.  A jazz combo played while guests enjoyed an appetizer buffet of Smoked Salmon wrapped Asparagus, Bacon wrapped Scallops, Mini Lamb Pops, and Fruit and Cheese.

The appetizer buffet carried the gold theme out onto the veranda with a beautiful gold sequined runner and a gold vase for the arrangement.  

Guests lingered as the weather was stunning and the music and food were all wonderful.

Their cake for the evening was a three tiered cake/  Blush hand made fondant roses and hand dusted 23 karat gold adorned the tiers of lemon raspberry, chocolate, and vanilla cake.  Those were had with a sorbet trio that was just right at the end of the meal.

The dinner was topped off with a coffee bar with liqueurs and flavored syrups for guests to enjoy.

The evening ended with the couple toasting and being toasted, some tears, lots of laughter, and dancing.

Sunday morning wrapped up the weekend with a brunch (and lots of coffee) for everyone before they went their separate ways.  We would recommend the hotel without reservation.  It was the exact right venue for the event and the staff was exceptional.  We can't wait to go back.