Belmont Jewel

Two Belmont jewel cocktails garnished with lemon slices

The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Horse racing and bourbon cocktails go hand in hand, and each Triple Crown race has its own special drink. This Belmont jewel recipe is the official drink for the Belmont Stakes, though it hasn't always been the cocktail of choice for the June race.

The drink is simple and refreshing. The mix of bourbon, lemonade, and pomegranate juice is perfect for any occasion, particularly summer parties. It's also an easy recipe to transform into a punch and serve by the pitcher to a thirsty crowd.

"The Belmont Jewel has made me thankful. This cocktail is just fantastic from beginning to end. If you’re a bourbon drinker looking for that summertime tipple, look no further. It’s a complete cocktail sweet, sour, and spirited. It’s one of my new favorites, and I have no doubt it’ll be one of yours." —Sean Johnson

Belmont Jewel Cocktail in garnished with a lemon wedge
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey

  • 2 ounces lemonade

  • 1 ounce pomegranate juice

  • Lemon wedge, orange zest, or ​cherry, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make a Belmont Jewel cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the ingredients.

    A cocktail shaker filled with ice, next to three small empty glasses

    The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

  3. Shake vigorously.

    A cocktail shaker and a Hawthorne strainer

    The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

  4. Strain over fresh ice into a double old-fashioned glass.

    A hand pouring a cocktail shaker of Belmont jewel into a glass filled with ice

    The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

  5. Garnish with a lemon wedge, orange zest, or cherry. Serve and enjoy.

    A Belmont Jewel cocktail, garnished with a lemon wedge

    The Spruce Eats / Abby Mercer

The Many Cocktails of the Belmont Stakes

Among the Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby is the only one to stick with a single drink over the years. The mint julep has remained the drink to have while watching the Derby. There is also a new "official" julep recipe released every year that often includes additional flavors, and they're quite impressive.

That's not the case for the other two races. The official cocktails change regularly, and, oddly enough, they frequently keep the same name. It has happened with the black-eyed Susan and the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes' drinks are no different.

For many years, the white carnation was the Belmont drink of choice. In 1998, Dale DeGroff created the Belmont breeze for the race, and it's a fabulously complex drink. The Belmont Jewel recipe above was published in 2011, although different premium bourbons are recommended as marketing and sponsorship changes. Feel free to make this recipe with any bourbon you like. You really can't go wrong with this drink.

How Strong Is the Belmont Jewel?

The strength of the Belmont Jewel is going to depend on the bourbon you pour. The difference is minimal, though the comparison is interesting. For instance, with 43.2 percent ABV bourbon, the cocktail mixes up to about 13 percent ABV (26 proof). When you pour a stronger 50 percent ABV bourbon, the drink is around 15 percent ABV (30 proof). Either way, the Belmont jewel is similar to a glass of wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
344 Calories
2g Fat
76g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 344
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 19mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 76g 28%
Dietary Fiber 19g 69%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 367mg 1,836%
Calcium 184mg 14%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 1048mg 22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)