Belmont Stakes 2015: What is a Belmont Breeze

The third and most difficult leg of the Triple Crown is getting ready to take off, so make sure you have your libation of choice on hand.

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Each leg of the Triple Crown has its own official drink, though arguably the Mint Julep is by and far the most recognizable and popular. The Belmont Stakes, located in New York, could have used iconic drinks such as the Manhattan or Long-Island Iced Tea, but instead has decided to create its own original concoctions. Unfortunately, none of them have lasted long.

The first one was the White Carnation, named after the blanket of flowers draped over the race winner. Then came the Belmont Breeze and finally the latest, a Belmont Jewel. Interestingly enough, the Belmont Jewel recipe is on the Belmont Stakes site under the moniker of Belmont Breeze.

The Belmont Breeze recipe was created by Dale DeGroff, head bartender at Manhattan’s Rainbow Room. It’s a fairly ingredient-heavy drink, unlike the Mint Julep or Black-Eyed Susan, and came into being in 1998, taking over for the widely panned White Carnation.

Your official Belmont Breeze ingredients are as follows:

1 1/2 ounces of blended American or Canadian whiskey. (some recipes also call for bourbon)

3/4 ounce Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce simple syrup

1 1/2 ounces fresh orange juice

1 1/2 ounces cranberry juice

7-Up

Club Soda

Shake the first six ingredients with ice, then top off with 7-Up and Club Soda in equal portions. Add a lemon wedge.

The result is a relatively sweet, fruity drink. The new Belmont Jewel is a much simpler concoction, with 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon, 2 ounces of lemonade and 1 ounce of pomegranate juice. Combine everything in a cocktail shaker with ice and then strain over ice. For garnish, add a cherry and lemon slice. This drink is more tart than the Breeze, and is a bright red color.

The eschewed White Carnation was whiskey-free, and consisted of vodka, peach schnapps and orange juice. It was topped off with soda water and a splash of cream. Definitely a bit of an acquired taste.

If you want to avoid all the strange Belmont drinks altogether, you can’t go wrong with the simple Manhattan. Mix 1 1/2 ounces of rye or blended whiskey with a splash of sweet vermouth and a dash of Angostura bitters. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Add a cocktail cherry as garish.

Whatever your drink may be, get ready to watch American Pharaoh’s run at the history books as he attempts to win the Belmont Stakes.

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