Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

With a ‘Kentucky Affogato,’ Derby Day Has Never Been So Sweet

Woodford Reserve

The Kentucky Derby may be known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, but for attendees it’s a never-ending party measured in mint julep highball glasses. The drink, comprised of mint, bourbon, and simple syrup, is so ubiquitous at the event that it’s almost a cliché, which leaves the field wide-open for creative alternatives to an old standard. So on Saturday, let us suggest a sweeter alternative: the Kentucky Affogato.

Related Guides

For this one, Woodford Reserve Brand Ambassador and Brooklyn resident Michael Toscano harks back to his days as the head bartender for the West Village’s Dante, an Italian aperitif restaurant, for which he concocted an early iteration. “It’s starting to get warm, everybody’s outside, and who doesn’t like a good ice cream float?” he tells The Manual.

To call the Kentucky Affogato a “cocktail” can only cause division, as its components could arguably classify it as a boozy dessert. Bourbon whiskey floats a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream, and over top, a warmed, mint-infused simple syrup melts the whole thing down into sweet, milky goodness. Garnished with more fresh mint, it’s as pleasant on the stomach as it is to the nose and eye.

The jury may still be out on how exactly to classify this drink, but the concoction is another delicious way to enjoy bourbon come Kentucky Derby. Like the race itself, it’s all about the horses, and when it comes to a seasonal drink, one can’t go wrong with bourbon whiskey.

The Kentucky Affogato

By Michael Toscano, Woodford Reserve Brand Ambassador

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz. bourbon whiskey
  • .5 oz. mint-infused simple syrup (see below)
  • 1 to 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream
  • Fresh mint
  • Grated dark chocolate or nutmeg (optional)

Method: 

  1. Over a stovetop and with low heat, simmer simple syrup with fresh mint leaves to taste (Toscano recommends 10 stemless leaves for 10 minutes as a baseline)
  2. In a dessert bowl or special coupe glass, pour in bourbon
  3. Spoon out one or two healthy scoops of ice cream into the dish
  4. Drizzle mint-infused syrup over the ice cream, allowing partial melting
  5. Garnish with a sprig of mint, and grate nutmeg or dark chocolate if desired

What You Need to Know

Most people know the traditional affogato as an espresso drink and may be thrown for a loop when this recipe doesn’t include it. “Affogato means ‘drown’ in Italian,” says Toscano. “In the sense of this cocktail, the hot syrup is melting the ice cream into the whiskey.” The bite of the bourbon pairs well with the rich, milky sweetness of a quality vanilla bean ice cream. For those really looking to lean in to the traditional mint julep theme, simply simmer the syrup longer and with more mint. “The longer it simmers, the more flavor you’re going to pull out of it,” he says. Finally, when considering ways to punch up the drink/dish, consider toppings that offer bold scents, or aromatics. These include nutmeg: “It’s going to add; it doesn’t distract from the flavor,” he says.

Read more: History of The Mint Julep

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jon Gugala
Features Writer
Jon Gugala is a freelance writer and photographer based in Nashville, Tenn. A former gear editor for Outside Magazine, his…
How to Make a Stand-Up Mint Julep
kentucky mint julep

It's easy to associate the Mint Julep with horse racing and a bygone era of porch sipping, somewhere in the south. And while those are legitimate thoughts, it limits a classic cocktail to certain occasions (such as the running of the Kentucky Derby) or particular geographic coordinates. Well, this refreshing drink ought to do more than just that, especially in the heat of season when the cooling powers of ice and mint are all the more welcome.

Per our theme of chatting up industry pros on classic cocktail wisdom, we reached out to somebody in the know. Steve Fette is a Craft Spirit Development Specialist at Allied Beverage Group, which is based in New Jersey. He says a proper Julep should be strong, ice cold, tout minty aromatics, and be just a touch sweet. "No citrus, no shaking," he said. "Just spirit, sugar, mint, and ice."

Read more
6 Essential Scotch Cocktails That You Need to Know
essential scotch cocktails rusty nail cocktail

Scotch whisky isn't called the water of life for nothing -- it's a divine spirit that works on so many levels. It brightens the days of the sad and it calms the nerve-wracked masses. It's always there for you. You can drink it neat, on the rocks, or with a few drops of water — however you choose, it's a wonderful liquor.

We will admit that there are times that we want to enjoy Scotch whisky in a cocktail.  We're not saying use that bottle of Macallan 50 Years Old to mix up a drink, but if you've got a nice mid-shelf whisky, you can occasionally step outside your comfort zone and mix up a Scotch whisky cocktail to drink any time of the day. Below, you'll find four classic Scotch cocktails for this summer. Try a classic whisky riff and one modern classic (courtesy of New York City bartender Sam Ross) that you should know how to make for yourself and for any of the Scotch-loving people in your life.

Read more
7 Creative Mint Julep Alternatives for a Boozy Kentucky Derby Weekend
Mint Julep Butchertown Brandy Julep

We adore a good mint julep, especially in the warm throes of spring. But mixology is all about, well, mixing it up. So we've gathered some great alternative cocktails that are inspired by the classic but incorporate a broader array of ingredients.

Related Reading

Read more