We’re kicking Drink Up Week with three different cocktails from Belle’s Cocktail House — a special LEXtoday drink, a mocktail, and even a drink that you can make at home, just in case you can’t make it out to participate this week.

We partnered with Belle’s on this because, well, this place really knows a thing or two about craft cocktails. Plus, its rooftop patio is one of our favorite spots in the city.

If you don’t know about Belle’s, here’s the low down —

The mixologists here regularly compete in regional + national cocktail competitions.
Belle’s has been named as one of “America’s 80 Best Bourbon Bars.”
The rooftop bar not only offers gorgeous views of downtown, it was also the first rooftop bar in Lexington.

“LEXtoday Cocktail”
Belle’s pulled out all the stops, and even used Aaron’s favorite bourbon when crafting this drink — Eagle Rare 10 Year. The carefully crafted cocktail will be $12 all week long at Belle’s Cocktail House, 156 Market St.

Ingredients

2 oz Eagle Rare
.75 oz China China
.5 oz dry curacao
.5 oz lemon juice

“Naked in the Garden”
If you choose not to drink alcohol, we’ve also got you covered. This mocktail is extremely refreshing when sitting on the rooftop taking in the skyline.

Ingredients

1.5 oz lemon juice
1.5 oz strawberry kiwi shrub
1 oz soda water
2 cucumber slices
2 lemon slices
2 whole strawberries

“In the Money”
We asked Belle’s to create a batch cocktail that was both delicious + easy to make at home — so you can be the hostess with the mostest while entertaining guests.

Ingredients

1 bottle of Makers Mark 101
1 bottle of Aperol
1 bottle of Carpano Blanco Vermouth

Assembly

Pour all three bottles into a container.
Peel 4 oranges and put peels into a container with alcohol.
Let it sit overnight, about 12 hours.
Strain out orange peels.
Pour about 3 ounces over an ice ball.
Use an orange slice to garnish.