The Kentucky Proud Cocktail

I went to school a few miles from the only company that invented a soda in Kentucky: Ale-8-One. Getting these sodas after class from the vending machine at The Clucker's in Wilmore, Ky makes me think of summer and those horse farms that surrounded my college.

And just a few more miles away was the Bourbon Trail. A trail of bourbon distilleries that included my favorite bourbon, Woodford Reserve, a distillery from Brown-Forman.

And in honor of my two favorite Kentucky drinks I have come up with The Kentucky Proud Cocktail just in time for Derby. Now if you mix Woodford, I would be sad. It's delicious neat and I might add one cube on a summer day. But that's it. Mixing it would be a sin.

But Brown-Forman has done it again.

They have artfully crafted a new bourbon, Coopers' Craft, that is smoother and softer and makes for the perfect mixing bourbon. And it makes this Kentucky girl even more proud that it's made right in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

So this derby while everyone else is sipping on mint juleps I will be sipping on my Kentucky Proud Cocktail.

The Kentucky Proud Cocktail

Ingredients

Coopers' Craft Bourbon

Ale-8-One

One cup crushed ice

Candy ginger for garnish

Directions

Pour 2 ounces Coopers' Craft Bourbon over 1 cup of ice

Add 4 ounces Ale-8

Mix together

Garnish with candied ginger ale.

And that's it.

The perfect Kentucky Cocktail for Derby, Summer and all year long.