You don’t have to make the trip to New York to enjoy this amazing whiskey cocktail called the Belmont Jewel. We will show you how to make one in the privacy of your own home. You can then savor the drink while you enjoy your favorite horse races with an online racebook. Horse racing and bourbon drinks are celebrations of the finer things in life.
The History of the Belmont Jewel
In horse racing’s Triple Crown series it is common for each race to have a signature bourbon drink. At the Kentucky Derby this drink is the Mint Julep. It is also the oldest of the three drinks associated with each race. The Black-Eyed Susan of the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Jewel are much younger. In fact, the Belmont Jewel arrived on the scene after the year 2000.
The Belmont Jewel is actually the successor to the Belmont Breeze which appeared at the race in 1998. The Belmont Breeze was a famously hard and complex drink to make. The best signature horse racing drinks are those which are simple to fashion. They need to be prepared quickly to satisfy the large crowds of patrons at the races.
The Belmont Breeze only lasted a few years before it was replaced with the Belmont Jewel. The creators of the drink tried to preserve the original idea while paring things down to the essentials. Bourbon, of course, was retained as the primary ingredient.
How the Belmont Jewel Became Identified with the Belmont Stakes
Creating a cocktail for a horse racing event is a daunting task. It is even more daunting when the race is one of the Triple Crown contests. With the Belmont it was important to have not only a good drink but a name for the drink that is worthy of the race’s prestige. Called the Test of the Champion, the Belmont Stakes is the race that decides the Triple Crown. No horse wins the Triple Crown without winning the Belmont Stakes.
When naming a famous horse racing drink it is important to also keep things simple and memorable. The idea is to have people talk about the drink and immediately associate it with the race. Calling the drink the Belmont Jewel makes perfect sense because it is the final jewel in the Triple Crown.
There have been some legendary bourbon brands that have sought to lay claim to the Belmont Jewel. This has yet to happen because the drink is still less than 20 years old. In time a specific bourbon may come to be used in the making of the drink. Some day, maybe the Belmont Jewel will become as iconic as the famous Mint Julep that is served each year at the Kentucky Derby.
Because the Belmont Stakes happens closer to the summer months than the other races, the Belmont Jewel is more of a fruity cocktail than the Mint Julep.
How to Make the Perfect Belmont Stakes Belmont Jewel
Maybe you will be able to attend the Belmont Stakes in person some day. Until then, here is a recipe for making the perfect Belmont Jewel in your own kitchen.
Belmont Jewel Ingredients:
- 1 ยฝ oz of your favorite bourbon whiskey
- 2 oz lemonade
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- Garnish with lemon wedge, orange zest, or cherry
Belmont Jewel Preparation:
- Start by filling a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add all of the ingredients to the shaker
- Mix well
- Strain the drink over fresh ice into a double old-fashioned glass
- Garnish with your choice of fruit
It would be possible to substitute bourbon for this drink if you want to, but to keep things real stick with the best bourbon.
The Best Way to Enjoy Your Belmont Jewel at Home
Want to really enjoy that Belmont Jewel at home? All you need is the drink recipe above and an account with one of the online racebooks that we recommend such as AmWAGER. Signing up takes just a few minutes and you will be able to bet with your computer, phone, or tablet.
There is no need to wait for the Belmont Stakes to roll around each year if you want to have this drink. Make it any day of the year for a special treat.
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