What Texan wouldn’t admire a sporting event that celebrates horses, hats and cocktails? If you’re down to derby this coming weekend, take a look at these race-related cocktail parties. Prefer to watch the ponies from your sofa? Learn how to make the perfect mint julep at home, with Richard Middleton of Brennan’s of Houston.

Pre-Derby Day Events

Backstreet Cafe’s Pre-Kentucky Derby Garden Party
Date/Time: Thursday, May 4, 5 to 7 pm
Celebrate the race early at Backstreet’s Garden Party with a Derby hat contest, a bourbon tasting featuring five bourbons and sweet and savory treats. Think you have the best hat? The winner will receive a magnum of rosé. A ticket to the garden party also includes two drinks – your choice of mint juleps, bourbon mules, “Derby Daze” collins, The Houstonian cocktail, sparkling wine or craft beer. Price – $30 plus tax and gratuity

Derby Day Events on Saturday, May 6

Julep Derby Day
Time: 1 to 7 pm
Julep’s 3rd annual Derby Day Party is back this year featuring live music, food, drinks, fashion and a viewing of the 143rd Kentucky Derby. This year’s sponsored charity is Habitat for Horses, one of the largest equine protection organizations in the country. Price – $20 to $70.

Julep Derby Day. Courtesy photo

Ouisie’s Day at The Derby
Time: Starts at 4:30 pm and continues through dinner
Beginning at the bar at 4:30 pm, sip on mint juleps and Kentucky bourbon whiskey flights while watching the race. Post-race, Ouisie’s has a Day at the Derby menu on offer: a three-course dinner of Southern dishes, each paired with a bourbon cocktail. Reservations are encouraged. Price – $45 plus tax and gratuity

Derby Day at Rosewater Clear Lake
Time: 4 pm when the bar opens
This upscale watering hole in Clear Lake will celebrate the Derby with a special mint julep menu featuring the classic bourbon-based mint julep, their new Rosewater Julep made with floral gin, their private barrel of Copper and Kings cask-strength American brandy, rose liqueur and cucumber syrup, a throwback Georgia Julep made with peach brandy from Chicago’s Koval Distillery, and more. Come dapperly dressed, but leave your big hats at home – Rosewater plans to host the tiniest hat contest. Check back to their Facebook page throughout the week for more details.

Celebrate Derby Day at Rosewater in Clear Lake

The Inaugural Houston Derby Day at The Houston Event Venue
Time: 3:30 to 7 pm
This open bar event invites guests to arrive in their Derby best and enjoy the race as well as the launch of Stolen American Whiskey. This is the official launch party of Stolen Whiskey (the company is known for its smoked Stolen Rum), and attendees can sip on Stolen Juleps throughout the afternoon and evening. Price – $25 to $35

The Stolen Julep. Courtesy photo

Derby Day at French Country Wines
Time: noon to 6 pm
The Rice Village wine shop will host its own “Run for the Rosés” and will open some half-dozen different bottles of rosé that arrived in their April shipment. The tasting also includes cheeses from Houston Dairy Maids and rosé macarons. Price – Free and open to the public

Eight Row Flint’s julep for Derby Day. Photo by Carla Gomez

Kentucky Derby Day at Eight Row Flint
Time: Bar opens at 11 am
The Heights icehouse will have live Derby Day coverage and, most importantly, $6 Eight Row Juleps, featuring their proprietary blend of Woodford Reserve.

Derby Day Cocktails at Bayou & Bottle at the Four Seasons
Time: Served during regular business hours
Bayou & Bottle is celebrating the race with Derby-inspired cocktails: the mint julep, Champagne julep, sweet tea mule and several others.