Your New Derby Day Drink

Winning Trifecta

Whiskey Dry, the Louisville burger-and-bourbon bar—one of chef Ed Lee’s three concepts in town—has a drink menu that showcases the state’s star spirit without knocking you off your bar stool. Case in point, the Commonwealth: an easy-drinker with coffee, sorghum, and a peppery kick, which mirror the nuances of bourbon. A key part of the equation is Ale-8-One, a Kentucky-based ginger-citrus soda that’s notably less carbonated than other soft drinks. (Outside the Bluegrass State, you’ll likely have to source it online.) The Commonwealth doesn’t pack the wallop of that other Derby beverage, which means it can take you from brunch to the after-party—seersucker suits and fancy hats intact.