Why You Will Love These

Preakness 151 is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Laurel Park while Pimlico is being rebuilt. The setting shifts for a year, but the drink mood is still Maryland: bright citrus, pineapple, elderflower, orange wedges, cherries, crushed ice, and a little Baltimore race-day polish.

This list starts with the official Black-Eyed Susan formula from Pimlico, then builds out the drinks people actually search for around Preakness week: vodka, rum, bourbon, peach, rye, an orange crush, a light elderflower spritz, and one alcohol-free version that still tastes like it belongs at the table.

Seven Preakness drinks on a race-day table with golden citrus cocktails, elderflower spritzes, orange wedges, cherries, crushed ice, and Maryland party details
A Preakness drinks table should feel sunny, citrusy, and easy to serve, with enough variety for vodka, bourbon, rum, sparkling, and alcohol-free drinkers.

The List

1. Official Black-Eyed Susan

This is the anchor drink. Pimlico’s official Black-Eyed Susan recipe uses vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, and orange juice. It is lighter than the older punch-style versions and leans into fresh citrus rather than heavy sweet-and-sour mix.

For one drink, shake 1 1/2 oz vodka, 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur, 2 oz pineapple juice, 1/4 oz fresh lime juice, and 3/4 oz orange juice with ice. Pour into a highball or Collins glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange wedge.

The flavor is golden, floral, and easy to drink. If you are only making one Preakness cocktail for 2026, make this the one.

Official Black-Eyed Susan cocktail in a tall glass with golden pineapple orange citrus color, ice, and an orange wedge garnish
The official Black-Eyed Susan keeps the drink bright with vodka, elderflower, pineapple, lime, and orange.

2. Annapolis Bourbon and Peach Black-Eyed Susan

Chesapeake Bay Magazine shared an Annapolis bar version built with bourbon, vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, and sour mix. It is a stronger, sweeter race-day version for people who want the drink to feel more like a party cocktail.

For one drink, shake 1 oz bourbon, 1 oz vodka, 1 oz peach schnapps, 2 oz orange juice, and 2 oz sour mix with ice. Pour into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

If you want to freshen it up, use homemade sour mix: equal parts fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. That keeps the peach and bourbon from tasting flat.

Bourbon peach Black-Eyed Susan cocktail over ice with orange slice and cherry garnish on a Maryland race-day table
Bourbon and peach schnapps give this Black-Eyed Susan a warmer Annapolis-style profile.

3. Rye Peach Susan

Wine Enthusiast featured a rye whiskey Black-Eyed Susan from Baltimore bartender Brendan Dorr of Dutch Courage. It drops the vodka and lets rye, peach liqueur, orange, lemon, and honey do the work.

For one drink, shake 2 oz rye whiskey, 1/2 oz peach liqueur, 2 oz orange juice, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1/4 oz honey syrup with ice. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Garnish with a peach slice and mint sprig.

This one tastes less tropical and more Maryland barroom: citrus up front, rye spice underneath, peach rounding the edges. Use a 1:1 honey syrup so it blends cleanly.

Rye peach Black-Eyed Susan cocktail in a Collins glass with peach slice, mint, orange citrus color, and clear ice
Rye gives the Black-Eyed Susan structure, while peach and honey keep it sunny enough for Preakness weekend.

4. Rum and Pineapple Black-Eyed Susan Punch

Older Black-Eyed Susan formulas often include rum, vodka, triple sec, orange juice, and pineapple juice. This version works best when you need a pitcher because the rum and citrus base scales cleanly.

For 10 drinks, combine 1 1/4 cups vodka, 1 1/4 cups light rum, 3/4 cup triple sec, 4 cups pineapple juice, 4 cups orange juice, and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice in a chilled pitcher or punch bowl. Stir well. Serve over ice in tall glasses with orange wheels and cherries.

Taste before serving. If the juice is very sweet, add another tablespoon of lime juice. If it tastes too sharp, add 2 oz simple syrup.

Pitcher of rum and pineapple Black-Eyed Susan punch with orange wheels, cherries, citrus juice, and ice-filled glasses
The rum punch version is the easiest Black-Eyed Susan to batch for a porch, patio, or race-day watch party.

5. Maryland Orange Crush

The orange crush is not a Preakness-specific drink, but it is very Maryland. Tasting Table notes the drink is tied to Maryland bar culture and built around fresh-squeezed orange juice, vodka, triple sec, and lemon-lime soda.

For one drink, squeeze 1 to 2 oranges to get about 1/2 cup fresh orange juice. Fill a pint glass with crushed ice. Add 1 1/2 oz vodka, 1 oz triple sec, and the orange juice. Top with 3 oz lemon-lime soda. Stir gently and garnish with an orange wedge.

This is the drink to serve beside crab cakes, salty snacks, and anything outdoors. Fresh juice matters here. Bottled orange juice makes it taste like brunch punch.

Maryland orange crush cocktail in a pint glass with crushed ice, fresh orange juice, vodka, triple sec, soda, and orange wedge
Fresh-squeezed orange juice makes the Maryland orange crush taste sharper, brighter, and less syrupy.

6. Elderflower Hugo Spritz

For a lighter option, the Hugo Spritz keeps elderflower in the lineup without the weight of juice. St-Germain’s version uses elderflower liqueur, prosecco, sparkling water, mint, and lime.

For one drink, fill a large wine glass with ice. Add 8 to 10 mint leaves, 1 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur, 2 oz dry prosecco, and 2 oz sparkling water. Stir gently. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wedge.

Serve this early in the afternoon or for guests who want something floral and sparkling but not as sweet as the Black-Eyed Susan.

Elderflower Hugo spritz in a large wine glass with prosecco, sparkling water, mint leaves, lime wedge, and clear ice
The Hugo Spritz brings elderflower, mint, lime, and bubbles into the Preakness drink lineup.

7. Alcohol-Free Black-Eyed Susan Spritz

The alcohol-free option should not feel like leftover juice. Feasting Through Time’s Preakness mocktail keeps the Black-Eyed Susan color and fruit profile with orange juice, pineapple juice, tonic water, and peach syrup.

For one drink, combine 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/3 cup pineapple juice, 1/3 cup tonic water, and 1 tablespoon peach syrup in an ice-filled glass. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice and one blackberry or blueberry.

The tonic water is the useful trick. It adds a bitter edge that keeps the drink from tasting like a kids’ punch, while the peach syrup nods to the older peach schnapps versions.

Alcohol-free Black-Eyed Susan spritz with orange juice, pineapple juice, tonic water, peach syrup, orange slice, and blackberry garnish
Orange, pineapple, tonic, and peach syrup make a zero-proof Black-Eyed Susan that still feels grown-up.

How to Build the Preakness Drink Table

Make the official Black-Eyed Susan as the signature drink, then choose two backups: one stronger bourbon or rye option, and one lighter spritz or alcohol-free option. That gives you range without turning the kitchen into a full bar.

For a crowd, batch only the rum and pineapple punch ahead. Keep anything sparkling separate until serving. Slice oranges, chill juices, make honey syrup, and set out mint before guests arrive. Do not shake individual drinks until someone orders one, because citrus drinks taste best cold and freshly aerated.

Make Ahead

  • Juice oranges and limes the morning of the party and refrigerate them separately.
  • Make honey syrup up to 1 week ahead.
  • Chill pineapple juice, orange juice, prosecco, tonic water, and soda before serving.
  • Batch the rum punch base without ice up to 4 hours ahead.
  • Add sparkling water, tonic, soda, and prosecco only when pouring.

Common Questions

When is the Preakness in 2026?

Preakness 151 is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026. The official Preakness FAQ says the race will be held at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, while Pimlico Race Course is closed for redevelopment.

What is the official Preakness drink?

The Black-Eyed Susan is the signature Preakness cocktail. The official Pimlico recipe I used here calls for vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, and orange juice, shaken and served in a highball glass with an orange wedge.

Why are there so many Black-Eyed Susan recipes?

The recipe has changed over time. Some versions use vodka and elderflower. Others include rum, bourbon, peach schnapps, triple sec, sour mix, orange juice, or pineapple juice. That is why this list separates the official recipe from older and regional riffs.

What should I serve for guests who do not drink alcohol?

Make the alcohol-free Black-Eyed Susan spritz. It keeps the same orange, pineapple, and peach profile but uses tonic water for bitterness and structure instead of spirits.

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