The 8 Most Iconic Foods And Drinks Associated With Major Sporting Events

Most sporting events boast concession stands where fans can help themselves to various food and drinks. Most of those outposts serve up fairly generic fare, but there are certain venues that are known for offerings that have become inextricably linked to events they host.

These sporting events are known for the signature food and drinks that have become a beloved staple

The typical concession stand at a sporting event peddles fairly pedestrian staples like hot dogs, nachos, and soft pretzels. Many venues have started offering more gourmet options in an attempt to cater to fans with more refined palates, including those that try to go viral by thinking outside the box.

There are others that were pretty ahead of the curve on that front, including the ones that host events that are known for the signature food and drinks that are served up while they’re going on.

Mint Julep: The Kentucky Derby

The word “julep” can be traced back to the Middle East, and the word referred to a mixture of sugar, spirits, and various herbs and spices that was used as a treatment in European medicine well before the mint julep made its first appearance in the United States around the time of the American Revolution.

Various liquors were harnessed as a base, and it was only natural that bourbon became the go-to in Kentucky. In 1938, Churchill Downs adopted the concoction (a cocktail consisting of the state’s signature spirit, sugar, water, and mint served over crushed ice) as its official drink, and more than 125,000 of them are sold at the racetrack during its premier event.

The Honey Deuce: The U.S. Open

In 2006, Grey Goose tapped veteran New York City mixologist Nick Mautone to craft a signature cocktail to help boost its profile as a sponsor at the U.S. Open.

He ended up creating what was dubbed The Honey Deuce, a combination of vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur garnished with spheres of honeydew melon designed to look like tennis balls.

It ended up being a hit, and in 2025, a grand total of 738,459 of those cocktails were sold at the U.S. Open while generating over $17 million in revenue.

Strawberries And Cream: Wimbledon

The next two sporting events on this list are the only ones that will appear twice, as they are known for both a signature dish and a signature cocktail.

We’ll kick things off with Wimbledon, the Grand Slam that was first played all the way back in 1877. It’s not entirely clear when strawberries and cream became a staple of the tournament, but back then, the seasonal fruit was only available around the time it was played during the summer, and it’s believed some spectators brought their own before it was adopted as the official snack.

Nowadays, more than 2.5 million strawberries (collectively weighing in at over 55 tons) are sent to London the same day they’re picked on a farm in Kent while Wimbledon unfolds, and thousands of liters of cream are used to make the whipped treat they’re served with.

Pimm’s Cup: Wimbledon

If you’re looking for something to wash down your strawberries and cream at Wimbledon, it’s hard to go wrong with the Pimm’s Cup that is the go-to beverage there.

The Pimm’s in question refers to the gin-based liqueur that James Pimm positioned as a tonic when he started serving it at an oyster bar in London in the 1820s. In 1971, the brand opened a bar at Wimbledon dedicated to serving its signature “Pimm’s Cup,” a cocktail consisting of Pimm’s No .1 and lemon soda garnished with strawberry, cucumber, orange, and mint.

They ended up being a hit, and spectators consume nearly 300,000 of them each year.

Pimento Cheese Sandwich: The Masters

Part of me wanted to simply highlight the entire menu at The Masters, which garners plenty of attention when Augusta National hosts the major each year due to the famously low prices for every single item.

However, there isn’t a single one on the food front that stands out more than the pimento cheese sandwich. It’s a pretty straightforward offering—a mixture of cheese, mayo, pimentos, and spices served up between a couple of slices of white bread—but it is a very popular option among patrons who only have to shell out $1.50 to get one.

The Azalea Cocktail: The Masters

There are also plenty of reasonably priced drinks on the menu at The Masters; soda, water, and iced tea will all set you back $2, while every alcoholic beverage goes for $6.

That includes the Azalea, which is named after the flower that also lends its name to the 13th hole. The tournament’s official cocktail is a mixture of vodka, lemonade, and grenadine garnished with a cherry and an orange slice, and Augusta National has shared its official recipe if you’re one of the many people who have to watch The Masters unfold at home.

Milk: Indianapolis 500

This one is a bit of a departure from the ones we’ve discussed so far, as most spectators are not pounding milk while watching the Indianapolis 500 unfold at The Brickyard each year.

However, it has been the celebratory drink for the winner of the race ever since Louis Meyer asked for some buttermilk to refresh himself after claiming a victory in 1936. An American dairy executive pounced on the opportunity to get some free press for the beverage that became a staple of the event, and drivers are now asked what type of milk they’d prefer to drink before they participate.

Milkshakes: The Memorial Tournament

I’m going to stick with the dairy theme while mentioning another signature beverage that is reserved for competitors: the milkshakes available at Muirfield Village Golf Club during The Memorial Tournament.

Jack Nicklaus supposedly started serving up some of the milkshakes himself when his course in Dublin, Ohio hosted The Memorial Tournament for the first time in 1976, and they have become a highly anticipated treat among the golfers who earn the right to play in it.

Those players can pick from a variety of flavors, but the most popular option is the peanut butter and chocolate offering known as the “Buckeye.”