by Timmy Duncan

Created on: March 31, 2010   Last Updated: April 07, 2010

The Black Eyed Susan cocktail is to the Preakness Stakes what the Mint Julep cocktail is to the Kentucky Derby. The Black Eyed Susan is the official state flower of Maryland and it is a long standing tradition to drape a blanket of Black Eyed Susans over the shoulders of the winning horse. So it only made sense to name the official cocktail of the event after the flower as well. The only problem is that Black Eyed Susans do not bloom in Maryland until June and the Preakness Stakes take place in May.

Since the Black Eyed Susan is Maryland’s official state flower and the black and yellow colors are also the state colors (and the color theme for the Preakness Stakes each year) it only makes sense that the official cocktail of the Preakness would be appropriately titled – the Black Eyed Susan!

Served at the Alibi Breakfast and to the fans on Black Eyed Susan Day and Preakness Day, the recipe for the Black Eyed Susan has changed a bit over the years. Though the recipe may have evolved, the look and flavor have remained the same. The cocktail is served in a special glass with the Preakness logo for the year and a list of all the previous Preakness winners on it.

The recipe is as follows:

-       1 ¼ oz. Whiskey

-       ¾ oz. Vodka

-       3 oz. sweet and sour mix

-       2 oz. orange juice

To prepare a Black Eyed Susan, you fill a highball glass with shaved ice and pour the vodka and whiskey in first. Next, top off the glass with orange juice and sweet and sour mix. Stir well and add a slice of orange or a cherry as a garnish. The result is a delicious and fruity drink that is deceptively strong.

The original recipe called for equal parts of Cointreau, Mount Gay rum and Vodka topped off with orange and pineapple juice with a lime wedge garnish. It was developed in 1973 when the commemorative souvenir glass was born and they needed something to go in the glass. Over the years the liquors have changed – usually based on which liquor companies were sponsors of the Preakness Day races.

Originally, each cocktail was mixed individually, but with the volume that are consumed on Preakness Day, it became too difficult to mix it this way. While the recipe has been simplified over time to account for the mass amounts, it never seems to phase the customers – maybe they just want the souvenir glass?

 Resources:

Washington Post. Black Eyed Susan. May 7, 2006.

Cindy Pierson Dulay. Black Eyed Susan.

Brock Sheridan. Preakness Official Drink: The Black Eyed Susan. May 4, 2009.

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