Brown Derby
A grapefruit–honey bourbon sour with bright citrus lift and gentle sweetness.
Base spirit
Whiskey
Style
Sour
Glassware
Coupe
The Brown Derby blends bourbon with grapefruit juice and honey syrup for a sunny, lightly bitter sour. Shaken briefly, it pours pale gold with soft citrus aromatics. Its structure is more refreshing than rich, showing how honey and grapefruit pair naturally with the grain sweetness of bourbon. Named for LA’s hat-shaped restaurant, it became tied to Hollywood’s golden age.
Ingredients
Servings
- • 2 oz bourbon
- • 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- • 0.5 oz honey syrup
- • Grapefruit twist
Did you know?
“Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant was a celebrity magnet; cocktail writers note that its drinks often appeared in gossip columns alongside studio-era stars.”
Source:PunchDrink archives; Imbibe
Bartender's Note
Use freshly squeezed grapefruit for cleaner bitterness and aroma.
How to make the Brown Derby
- 1Shake all ingredients with ice.
- 2Strain into coupe.
- 3Garnish with grapefruit twist.
