The official recipe for a Belmont Jewel mixes bourbon whiskey, lemonade, and pomegranate juice, garnished with a twist of lemon. It’s a simple drink, by cocktail standards, but it's also a potent blend of a New York favorite with a sweet supporting cast. At Bocage Champagne Bar in Saratoga, just a short drive from the racetrack where the Belmont Stakes will be run this year (and next), they’ve put their own uniquely bubbly spin on the Belmont Jewel that blends the classic recipe with the bar’s own aesthetic.
“Historically, the Belmont Jewel is a very simple, stirred cocktail, similar to an old-fashioned,” explained Zac Denham, co-owner of Bocage, during a recent visit to the Phila Street champagne bar. “Of course, at Bocage, we have to make everything sparkle just a little bit.” The Belmont Stakes' official cocktail, the Belmont Jewel, gets a bubbly twist at Saratoga's Bocage Champagne Bar.
“We use rye whiskey, which I feel has a little bit more of a mellow flavor profile,” continued Denham. “We then layer in a housemade lemonade, a good-quality pomegranate juice, and of course, introduce bubbles.” Denham indicated that Sagamore Spirit Rye is the go-to foundation for Bocage’s spin on the Belmont Jewel.
The bar’s choice of bubbles includes St. Kilda Brut and a local favorite: Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water. “Trust me, rye and bubbles work really well together,” laughed Denham.
The cocktail is finished off with a garnish of orange peel and fresh m.
