Strong, unique, and for lovers of whiskey! This Brown Derby cocktail recipe is an intriguing combination of bourbon, grapefruit juice and honey syrup.

Brown Derby

The Brown Derby is a simple, classic cocktail that beautifully combines honey, whiskey, and grapefruit for an intriguing delight.

Named after the famed Hollywood hotspot the Brown Derby restaurant during the “Golden Age,” this cocktail harkens the glamour of past glitz and glamour.

Ready to learn more about this fancy-yet-simple libation? Let’s shake this!

The Brown Derby Cocktail Recipe Ingredients

Bourbon – any bourbon whiskey will do
Grapefruit Juice – fresh-squeezed will do, or bottled is fine.
Honey Syrup – try my honey syrup recipe – it’s easy and can be used in many cocktail recipes.

Remember to have a coupe glass on hand for serving, and a grapefruit twist for an impeccable garnish.

closeup photo of brown derby drink with a grapefruit garnish

History of the Brown Derby

This cocktail is named after the Brown Derby restaurant.

The restaurant was located on the famed Sunset Strip during the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. It was a popular hangout for the famous, with notable celebs such as Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich frequenting it.

In fact, famous filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille owned one of these restaurants in the restaurant chain.

But why was the restaurant called “Brown Derby?”

The famed Hollywood restaurant was called the Brown Derby because the building it was in featured a dome that looked like a brown derby hat.

Who created the Brown Derby Drink?

The Brown Derby cocktail was created in 1930 at the Vendome Club, a well-known establishment that was owned by Billy Wilkerson, the founder of the Hollywood Reporter and the person credited with making the Sunset Strip what it was during the “Golden Age.”

What is a Brown Derby?

The Brown Derby is a whiskey-based cocktail that’s made with just 3 ingredients: honey syrup, bourbon whiskey, and grapefruit juice.

It was once called “De Rigueur,” and over time, came to be known as the Brown Derby, after the popular Golden Age Hollywood restaurant. [1] [2]

How to Make a Brown Derby

The Brown Derby is made very simply, with just a few steps an even fewer ingredients.

Before getting started, make sure you have honey syrup on hand. If not, be sure to click honey syrup for the super easy recipe.

First, fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice. Then, add bourbon, grapefruit juice, and honey syrup to the shaker.

Shake until very well chilled and the shaker is coated in condensation.

Then, strain the cocktail mixture into a chilled coupe glass.

Two photos showing How to Make a Brown Derby – expressing grapefruit oil from grapefruit twist over drink

Next, press and pinch a grapefruit twist between your fingers to express grapefruit oil into your glass. This is one of my favorite parts of making this drink!

Lastly, garnish the Brown Derby with a grapefruit twist.

Two photos showing How to Make this drink – placing grapefruit slice garnish on cocktail glass rim

Sip and enjoy the classic Brown Derby drink!

this drink recipe in a glass with a grapefruit garnish

Honey Syrup Cocktail Recipes

Since this cocktail is made with delicious homemade honey syrup, I thought you’d love to try a few more…

The Gold Rush Cocktail
Bee’s Knees Cocktail
THE Penicillin Cocktail Recipe
and just for fun… try the Last Word Cocktail

Tools You Need

Talk Derby to Me

Oh, forgive my cheesy humor! Pretty please? 😉 If you make this drink, take a pic and share it on Instagram tagging me @beamingbaker and #beamingbaker. I truly can’t wait to see it! ‘Til our next shaken adventure…

Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️