Family-Friendly Kentucky Derby Party
Tips for a family-friendly Kentucky Derby gathering.
The other day, I had a FaceTime call with my 6 year-old niece. “Saturday is May 1st,” she said, “that means it’s also Derby Day!” She then invited me to her Kentucky Derby party, which she’s holding with her sister and my parents. I’m still strongly considering her invitation, even if it is three hours away.
This isn’t a Derby when I’m up for going to the track. I’m so glad the race is on for people who want to attend, but my Covid experience has left me both still wary of crowds and not fully able to wear a mask for long periods of time. I’m skipping the track this year, but a fun, family-friendly Kentucky Derby party sounds fabulous. I’ve put together some ideas for a fun outdoorsy party — I love that there’s nothing fancy or overwhelming about it, it’s full of Kentucky traditions, and it’s as much fun for a 6 year-old as it is for the rest of us!
I kept the decorations simple, using things that could withstand a spill or a drop. I love this inexpensive pin display banner for the bourbon/mint julep and Derby Festival pins I’ve acquired over the years. It tells a fun story of past events we’ve loved and adds a cute little vintage touch to a tree!
I used an old quilt as a tablecloth and grabbed a few kids’ jockey hats in the Derby Party section at Kroger to use as party favors. I also found a vintage Louisville Stoneware Derby-themed flower pot that was perfect for the occasion!
I kept the menu simple as well — mini Derby Pies from Kern’s Kitchen, pimiento cheese and Benedictine sandwiches, crudités with Hall’s Beer Cheese, and Woodford Reserve Bourbon Balls. All of these dishes are traditional Kentucky favorites, and all I had to do was assemble the sandwiches and cut up the vegetables. I used my Stoneware & Co Bachelor Button dishes to continue the theme of a traditional Kentucky event!
Of course, I had to have mint julep ingredients on hand — including bottles of Woodford Reserve and Old Forester for those who choose to imbibe and Ale-8-one for those who don’t. I love freezing some Ale-8 until it’s a slushy consistency then serving over crushed ice with a mint sprig for a julep mocktail that everyone can enjoy!
If you’re looking for recipes, or if you want to take a sure-to-be-appreciated hostess gift, Chef Ouita Michel’s new cookbook, Just a Few Miles South, is the absolute best! Ouita is one of my very favorite people, and her first-ever cookbook is filled with the Kentucky Comfort Food we all love at her restaurants! It would also be a great prize if your party does a Derby Horse Pool or other games!
Cheers to Derby, however you choose to celebrate this year!
Stoneware & Co Summer Gift Guide
Stoneware & Co pieces for everyone on your summer gift list!
Summer is a time of new beginnings — people move after graduation, they get married, and they purchase new homes. I feel like I’m always on the lookout for meaningful keepsake gifts, and I find myself, time and again, giving presents from Stoneware & Co. I especially like to give pieces from the Embossed Running Horse collection. The neutral tones and subtle pattern complement nearly any decor, and are a great way to add a piece of Kentucky heritage to a home.
I’ve teamed up with Stoneware & Co. to show you some of my favorite Embossed Running Horse gifts, and Stoneware has graciously extended a coupon code for HerKentucky readers. Use code SUMMERTIME at online checkout, in-store, or on phone orders to take 10% off your Stoneware order. (This offer is valid from today, Friday June 21st, through Thursday June 27th at midnight.)
Here are a few of my favorite Stoneware pieces for summer gifting.
For a first apartment or dorm room
The Embossed Running Horse Julep Cup Soy Candle is such a great present for someone who’s just starting out in their first apartment or dorm room. It’s a clean-burning candle AND a keepsake julep cup. I love using Stoneware julep cups as small vases for fun, informal flower arrangements.
For a first home
The Embossed Running Horse 1 quart bar pitcher and julep cups are such a lovely housewarming gift for the new homeowner. Whether they choose to serve lemonade or Manhattans, they’ll entertain in style!
For the newlyweds
The Embossed Running Horse Wine Cooler and Saucer makes the absolute best present, y’all. It’s not only an elegant serving solution for chilling wine (you can store it in your freezer ahead of time to keep your wine appropriately chilled!); it also makes a gorgeous vase for tall flower arrangements! This is such a great present for newlyweds!
For the home chef
If you’re giving a gift to a serious home chef this summer, I suggest the Embossed Running Horse Large Oval Platter. The serving possibilities are absolutely endless with this piece. I plan to use mine as an elegant way to present my next charcuterie board, and it’s always fabulous for serving main courses!
I love that Stoneware has been producing unique Kentucky pottery — made from local clay and hand-painted and -fired by local artists — since the early 19th century. I love to gift Stoneware because it carries such a lovely story and provides your loved ones with a true heirloom. Let me know if you’re giving Stoneware gifts this summer, and don’t forget to use the special coupon code! Use code SUMMERTIME at online checkout, in-store, or on phone orders to take 10% off your Stoneware order. (This offer is valid from today, Friday June 21st, through Thursday June 27th at midnight.)
How to Curate a Home Bourbon Bar
Tips for summer entertaining from HerKentucky and Stoneware & Co!
Today is National Bourbon Day!
Here in Louisville, it seems like every day is National Bourbon Day. The bourbon industry is booming, with tours and culinary experiences and so many amazing tributes to Kentucky’s favorite spirit. And, of course, there’s nothing like enjoying a bourbon at home with your friends and family. Today, I’ve teamed up with Stoneware & Co. to provide you some great tips for curating your home bourbon bar, featuring Stoneware’s stunning Embossed Running Horse serving pieces! (Check out the end of this post for a Bourbon Day gift to y’all from Stoneware and HerKentucky!)
Step #1: Keep a range of flavors!
Here’s the thing. You don’t need to spend a fortune stocking your bourbon bar. Yes, there are some fabulous high-end, high-priced selctions. But there are also some great entry-level bourbons that your guests would love to enjoy with you. You just need to know a little bit about your bourbon. I suggest that you start with a range of flavors by mixing up the mash bills in your collection. Federal law mandates that, to be called a bourbon, a whiskey’s mash bill, or recipe, must consist of at least 51% corn. The remaining 49% of grains in the mash bill contribute strongly to the flavor of the bourbon. As a general rule, a mash bill that contains wheat will provide a sweeter note, while the addition of rye provides some spice. The biggest trend in whiskey right now is barrel finishing — finishing a bourbon in a second barrel, whether it’s a different oak barrel, a custom-staved barrel, or a barrel that once housed a different spirit. I like to keep a couple of “finished” bourbons on hand to provide a different tasting experience. And, while it’s not an actual bourbon whiskey, I like to keep one or two rye whiskeys on board (produced at Kentucky’s distilleries, of course!) to accommodate those folks who like a truly spicy whiskey. At my house, Bob especially likes ryes for cocktails. Here is a great overview of popular mash bills.
Step #2: Select a range of proofs.
Proof is an indicator of the alcohol content by volume. In the U.S., this is indicated as a number representing double the alcohol percent. So, for example, an 86 proof bourbon is 43% alcohol. Obviously, a lower proof will result in a less intoxicating substance. Some folks prefer to sip on low proofs, while others like a higher. If you’re entertaining a group of true bourbon drinkers, you’ll want to have a couple of proof options to meet different tastes. Here’s a fun fact: In blind taste tests, it’s often found that female bourbon drinkers will prefer a higher proof.
Tip # 3: Don’t forget the finishing touches!
While many bourbon purists drink the product straight, your home bar should also include bitters and vermouth for popular cocktails like the Manhattan. You’ll also want to stock up on sugar cubes, oranges, maraschino cherries, and mint for garnishes. I’ve recently seen a lot of creative cocktails that utilize more savory herbs like basil and rosemary — the sky’s the limit! (Check out my sorority sister Heather Wibbels’ award-winning basil julep recipe here!!) I also love to have plenty of simple syrup on hand. I usually make a double batch of simple syrup — using a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water — and separate it into halves. One stays as simple syrup for drinks like an Old-Fashioned, while the other is mixed with lemon juice to make a sour mix. I love Stoneware’s 1 quart Bar Pitcher for serving syrup —it’s so easy to pour your desired amount into each cocktail!
Tip #4: Serve water and Ice in style!
Here in Louisville, we’re fortunate to have the very best tap water — it’s actually won awards! In fact, Kentucky’s water supply is pretty special. The rich limestone throughout central Kentucky provides the clear-tasting water that first made our bourbon special, and that nourishes our famous racehorses. Of course, no bourbon bar is complete without ice and a pitcher of water. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to drinking bourbon — some folks like to dilute their spirits with just a drop or two of water, and some folks prefer a few — or a lot — of ice. I love Stoneware’s Embossed Running Horse Bar Pitcher and Ice Bucket to serve up water and ice in style. The best part is that these pieces, along with the julep cups, can be stored in the freezer so they’re appropriately chilled for maximum serving efficiency!
Tip #5: Keep some snacks on hand!
Don’t forget to have some snacks on hand to both compliment the flavors of the bourbon and to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach! Play with flavors you like to pair with bourbon , from salty cheeses to dark chocolate! It’s amazing how well so many different tastes coax out amazing notes in your whiskey!
Stoneware has graciously provided a coupon code, valid through June 20th at midnight, to help y’all stock up your own collection of handmade Kentucky pottery. Use code BOURBONBAR at online checkout, in store, or on phone orders to take 10% off your purchase!
Cheers, y’all! Let me know how your favorite tips for entertaining with bourbon!
(Stoneware & Co provided me with products for use in this post; as always, all opinions are my own. In fact, I collected Stoneware far before I had the opportunity to collaborate with them!)
Pomegranate Sale
Lexington, Kentucky dry goods company Pomegranate, Inc hosts their spring warehouse sale.p
Lexington Print pillow c/o Pomegranate, Inc.
My very favorite shopping event in Lexington is happening this week, y'all. Starting tomorrow, Wednesday the 16th, and running through Saturday the 19th, the Pomegranate, Inc. Spring Warehouse Sale returns! Visit the Pomegranate Warehouse at 527 Lagonda Ave in Lexington from 9-6 Wednesday-Friday and 10-4 on Saturday for fantastic deals on Pomeganate's unique linens, bags, and resort wear! The Warehouse sale always has amazing deals on gorgeous items, and you can use HerKentucky's exclusive sale code, 1792, for an additional 10% off your purchase!
Raffia Indigo Napkin Rings, Provence Blue Tea Towel, Indigo Napkins, and Blue Raffia Hemstitch Placemats c/o Pomegranate Inc
I love the unique elegance that Pomegranate linens bring to my table, and I love shopping with a local Lexington company!
Tulip Trot napkins and placemats and Baldwin Gold Napkin Rings c/o Pomegranate Inc.
My very favorite Pomegranate pieces are their aprons. How perfect are these as hostess gifts?
UK Collage, Pineapple Citrus, Pick Six, and Hunt aprons c/o Pomegranate.
If you can't attend the sale in person, don't worry. A coupon code just for HerKentucky readers will be available next week.
Tervis Tumbler Lifetime Warranty
Tervis Tumblers are a staple for Southern summers. Did you know that your tumblers carry a lifetime warranty?
It's such a beautiful summer here in Kentucky. And, if y'all are anything like me, you're spending more time outside, working out a little more, and trying to stay hydrated! Now, everybody knows that Tervis Tumblers are the best at keeping your drinks cold and showing off your personality.
Now. if you follow HerKentucky on Instagram, you may have seen that I recently took advantage of the Tervis Tumbler Lifetime Warranty and sent several of my older tumblers in for a replacement. Since a few of y'all asked about the warranty replacement, I thought I'd share a little more about the warranty and replacement steps.
If your Tervis Tumblers have gotten damaged -- sometimes the seal in the double-wall construction will become damaged and even cause the two pieces of the cup to separate -- all you have to do is fill out this form and ship your tumblers back to the Tervis company. Or you can return them to a Tervis store (it looks like the closest ones to Kentucky are in Cincinnati or Knoxville!) You can specify if you want to reuse the design you have or if you want a coupon code to purchase new Tumblers online. The return is quick and easy, and you're back to enjoying a fun, cold drink.
DO NOT let this happen!! Draper James Hello Sunshine Tervis Tumbler
Now, we've been using Tervis Tumblers at my house for as long as I can remember, and I've found a few tips that help keep them looking great. First off, keep your cups far away from sunscreen! Sunscreen leaves a nasty film on a Tervis cup that simply will not wash off. Second, don't put them in the bottom rack of the dishwasher. I've been guilty of this from time to time, especially with the 24oz cups. This is the fastest way to crack the seal between the two insulated layers, and it will result in condensation inside the cup design! Finally, use a little paste of baking soda and water to shine the cups! It makes them look like new!
Shop My Favorite Tervis Tumblers!
This post contains affiliate links. HerKentucky LLC may receive a nominal commission for some product links clicked in this post. This commission helps "keep the lights on" for HerKentucky.com; as always, all opinions are my own.