THE STORY OF THE Brown Derby Cocktail

The Brown Derby cocktail is named after the famous Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles. The Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles is an iconic symbol of Hollywood’s golden age. Established in 1926 by Wilson Mizner, Robert H. Cobb, and Herbert K. Somborn, the restaurant quickly became a hotspot for celebrities and movie moguls. Its unique design, shaped like a derby hat, made it an eye-catching landmark on Wilshire Boulevard.

What made the Brown Derby so special was not just its weird architecture but also its role as a social hub for Hollywood’s elite. The restaurant’s walls were adorned with caricatures of famous patrons, adding to its charm and allure. Although the original Brown Derby locations have closed, their legacy lives on like in the brown derby cocktail.

The Brown Derby cocktail is made with just three ingredients: bourbon, grapefruit juice and honey syrup. I read that Simon Difford prefers to make his Brown Derby with maple syrup instead of honey syrup. I think he’s right. For me, maple syrup always works better with bourbon than honey. If it were a cocktail with scotch, I would prefer the honey syrup.

More whiskey cocktails?!

I am also on Instagram. Just drop in…

My Instagram channel. Here you can find all of my recipes. Constantly updated whether you are an experienced home bartender or a newcomer to the cocktail scene. I got a drink for everyone.