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Entry from August 16, 2006
Derby Daiquiri (and Derby Daiquiri Pie)

The drink of the famed Kentucky Derby is the mint julep. The Florida Derby (at Gulfstream Park) has its own drink—the Derby Daiquiri.
 
Cocktail.com (below) asserts that the “Derby Daiquiri” was invented by Mariani Licudine in response to a Bacardi contest that was sponsored at the Gulfstream Race Track in 1960. However, the “Derby Daiquiri” of orange juice, lime juice, and rum is cited from at least 1959 (also below).
 
 
Cocktail.com
Derby Daiquiri
3 oz light Bacardi rum
3 oz orange juice
2 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup

Blend for 15 seconds, adding crushed ice for the last few seconds. Do not over blend, as this is meant to be a “frozen” drink.

Submitted by Mai-Kai, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Derby Daiquiri happens to have been invented here by Mariano Licudine, the Mai-Kai’s original opening day mixologist. Before opening the Mai-Kai in 1956, Mariano had worked his way up in the Don The Beachcomber operation to #2 man, so he came with a great deal of experience and creative ability. Mariano submitted this recipe in response to a contest that Bacardi was sponsoring with Gulfstream Race Track in 1960. Mariano’s recipe won the contest and subsequently the Derby Daiquiri was named the official drink of the annual Florida Derby. Part of it’s beauty is it’s simplicity and the major rum companies of Puerto Rico still promote it widely along with the recipe, as it’s easy to make at home. 
 
http://www.gulfstreampark.com/About/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will Gulfstream reopen?
A: Renovations that will lead to the long-awaited introduction of slot machines should be completed by mid autumn, our target date to have everything—restaurants, entertainment, slots and poker—up and running. The race meeting is scheduled to start in early January.

Q: How can I contact Gulfstream Park?
A: The number for the switchboard is 954-454-7000. On the homepage, under “Contact Track,” you can find options to contact us via e-mail.

Q: Will there be entertainment at Gulfstream in the fall?
A: Yes. You can expect big-name entertainment to return to Gulfstream by the late summer.

Q: What about the condominiums? 
A: A proposal to build 1,500 condominiums, with additional space for retail, over 60 acres of land at Gulfstream Park passed the South Florida Planning Council. It needs final approval by the City of Hallandale Beach before a date can be set for groundbreaking. The city meets to discuss and vote on the issue Aug. 15. 
 
2 May 1959, Chicago Daily Tribune, pg. 15:
Florida Cocktail in Kentucky?
It’s What Derbygoers May Drink
By JUDITH CASS
 
ANYONE ordering a Derby daiquiri instead of the traditional mint julep at Churchill Downs Saturday will probably be a Floridian who fell in love with the new drink at last month’s Florida derby at Gulfstream park. Florida boosters point out that as two of the last three Florida Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky race, so the orange and lime juice and rum drink should overtake the Kentucky bourbon concoction.
   
31 March 1960, Washington Post, “Horses and People” with Walter Haight, pg. D5:
With the mint julep the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, Gulfstream Park has come up with the Florida Derby Daiquiri—rum, orange and lime.
 
24 July 1960, Sunday Gazette-Mail (Charleston, WV), pg. 11E:
DERBY DAIQUIRI
(Official Drink at The Florida Derby)
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. fresh orange juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup (or scant tsp. sugar)
1 1/2 oz. white rum
1 cup crushed ice.
Mix not more than 10 sec. in Waring Blendor, serve unstrained in chilled cocktail glass.
   
20 March 1974, Long Beach (CA) Independent, Press-Telegram, pg. F1:
If the souffle fails to tempt you, how about the Derby daiquiri pie? This was inspired in southern Florida where the competition to the Kentucky Derby is run in Hollandale. The race is called a derby but the popular drink is a daiquiri, unlike the bourbon of its Kentucky competition. The key flavors are rum and lime juice. The pie is a gelatin great that holds its cool sufficiently to make you feel justified at deserting an otherwise prudent diet.
(...)(Pg. F7—ed.)
Derby daiquiri pie
1 envelope (1 tablespoon) unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 egg yolks, beaten to blend
1/2 cup lime or lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon grated lime or lemon peel
4 drops green food coloring (optional)
1/4 cup white or amber rum
3 egg whites
Dash salt
1/3 cup sugar
1 baked and cooled pastry shell
 
Combine gelatin, 2/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt in saucepan; stir in egg yolks, lime or lemon juice, and water. Cook and stir till mixture boils and gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat.
 
Ass lime or lemon peel and food coloring. Let cool to room temperature then stir in rum. Chill till mixture is partially thickened.
 
Beat egg whites with dash of salt till foamy; gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar, beating to stiff peaks; fold in gelatin mixture. Pile into cooled baked pie shell. Chill till firm.

Posted by Barry Popik
Florida (Sunshine State Dictionary) • Wednesday, August 16, 2006 • Permalink


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