The first Saturday in May is a good party day. There are many Cinco de Mayo parities celebrated that day, and it is also Derby Day which is another reason to throw a party.

The Kentucky Derby is run on that day at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. Called “the greatest two minutes in sports”, it is a tradition that began in 1875.

What better way to celebrate an iconic sporting event than with America’s iconic spirit, Bourbon.

That afternoon the Bourbon at Belmont event was held at Belmont Park racetrack located at 2150 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont.

It’s a reoccurring event that features over 30 Bourbon with live horse racing and a simulcast of the Kentucky Derby.

It makes for an usual venue and for an old school experience. The event took place on the 4th floor clubhouse which gave us access to the outdoor grandstand overlooking the racetrack. If you wanted to, you could have placed a bet on a race, purchased a cigar from one of the vendors at the event and sat in the grandstand with a bourbon in one hand, a cigar in the other and cheered your horse on to victory.

All of the Bourbon producers have several renditions of the spirit on hand to pour as well as a bottled rye. These were a few of the producers I sampled:

Bardstown	Heaven’s Door
Redemption	Cooperstown Select
Widow Jane	Penelope
Whipper Snapper	Calumet
Hudson Whiskey	Tunney
Great Jones	Green River
Pinhook	Dogfish Head