Episode 136: The Brown derby

Apr 10

Ep. 136 The Impostor in the Glass: The Brown Derby and Derby Sour

Welcome to Season 8 episode 136 of The Art of Drinking with Join Jules and Your Favorite Uncle

If you’ve ever stood in a liquor store staring at a wall of bourbon wondering what actually matters, this episode is for you.

In our latest episode of The Art of Drinking, Jules shows up to the recipe segment with a drink in each hand, fully convinced the Brown Derby cocktail was somehow tied to the Kentucky Derby. Confident. Committed. Completely wrong.

But honestly? The energy was correct.

Because the Brown Derby turns out to have one of the most chaotic, misattributed, and fascinating origin stories in cocktail history. Think: London roots, Midwestern business drama, Hollywood name-dropping, and a 70-year disappearance before its comeback during the modern craft cocktail revival.

Three ingredients. A lot of history. Surprisingly little of it confirmed.

In this episode, Uncle Brad and Jules:

Break down the true (and not-so-true) history of the Brown Derby cocktail
Explore how a drink can be miscredited across continents and decades
Walk through the classic 3-ingredient recipe
Compare bourbon whiskey profiles side-by-side so you actually understand what you’re tasting
Help you confidently choose the right bourbon for your next cocktail

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Art of Drinking Podcast | Your Favorite Uncle | Join Jules

Click here for the recipes this episode!

The Strange History of the Brown Derby

The Brown Derby is often associated with old Hollywood glamour, thanks to its name linking it to the iconic Brown Derby in Los Angeles.

But like many classic cocktails, the story isn’t that simple.

The drink is believed to have earlier roots in London cocktail culture, before being popularized—and possibly rebranded—in the United States. At one point, it was even tied to a Minneapolis businessman (yes, really), adding another layer to its already tangled history.

Despite its connections to Hollywood, there’s little concrete evidence that the drink actually originated there. Like many Prohibition-era cocktails, its history is a mix of fact, speculation, and a bit of good marketing.

After fading from popularity for decades, the Brown Derby was rediscovered during the craft cocktail revival, when bartenders began revisiting vintage recipes and bringing forgotten classics back into the spotlight.

This weeks tip section will be dedicated to answering YOUR questions