Your favorite co*cktails are here to stay at the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Here's what to know (2024)
Great news for co*cktail lovers and horse racing fans. Woodford Reserve, the “Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby” has renewed its partnership with Churchill Downs Racetrack.
"We are proud to renew this partnership, as it unites together two of Kentucky’s greatest attractions,bourbon and thoroughbreds," Lawson Whiting, CEO of Brown-Forman Corporation, owner ofWoodford Reserve, said Wednesday.
In a nutshell, or rather a shot glass, this renewed partnership means race fans can imbibe traditional Kentucky Derby Week co*cktails (made with Brown-Forman products) while betting on their favorite thoroughbreds.
For those new to Derby Week, Thursday through Saturday at the racetrack have specific names — Thurby, Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, this year held on May 6. And each day has its own signature co*cktail — the Woodford Spire, Oaks Lily and mint julep.
Old Forester returns as the “Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby” and a sponsor of Thurby, a beloved day of live racing held on the Thursday of Derby week.
Premium Finlandia Vodka celebrates the Kentucky Oaks as a key ingredient for the signature Oaks Lily co*cktail which is served Friday of Derby week.
For those looking for an edge at the betting window, Herradura tequila (also a Brown-Forman product) will be available at Churchill Downs throughout Derby week. The tequila's label includes a horseshoe which signifies "luck."
Woodford Reserve has been the “Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby” since 1999 and the presenting sponsor for the past four years. The renewed partnership between Woodford and Churchill Downs will continue through 2027.
Woodford Reserve commemorated the sponsorship by laying down oak in the Kentucky Derby Winner’sCircle at Churchill Downs to be used in a barrel for a very rare bourbon that will celebrate the milestone150th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2024. The oak will be “seasoned” in open air for approximatelytwo months, allowing the wood to mature in preparation for the whiskey.
“We are excited for the next five years, and we are honored to continue our partnership with ChurchillDowns by creating this very special bottle for Derby 150,” said Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris. “On the first Saturday in May, no matter where in the world we are, we are all Kentuckians with a glass of Woodford Reserve in hand.”
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story and video appeared on this site in 2023. The official drink of the Kentucky Derby is the bourbon-based Mint Julep.
We can't talk about Kentucky Derby co*cktails without mentioning the most iconic game-day restorative. The Mint Julep became the official drink of the Derby in 1939 and has been synonymous with the horse race ever since.
The mint julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1939, although its origins trace back to the first Derby Day in 1875. This iconic bourbon co*cktail is still served to Kentucky Derby attendees to this day, typically presented in silver or pewter cups that create a crisp, frosted effect.
Mint julep, Oaks Lily or Woodford Spire? Three drinks: mint juleps, Oaks Lilys and Woodford Spires are everywhere at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week.
Considered the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the mint julep features straightforward, uncomplicated ingredients: bourbon, mint, sugar, crushed ice, perhaps a little syrup. Its simplicity, however, has become a staple of the event at Churchill Downs for decades.
The specialties — a Mint Julep, Oaks Lily, Spire or Margarita — are all $22. For any co*cktail, you're going to pay at least $18. Premium beers and seltzers are $14, and just a dollar less for domestics.
1. Margarita. The classic Margarita co*cktail has been one of the most popular co*cktails in America for years and still remains on top. While there are many variations, the traditional recipe consists of tequila, Triple Sec and lime juice.
A combo that's served over crushed ice in a stainless-steel cup. That is THE drink that will get you through a hot Kentucky summer. Don't believe us? Ask the locals.
The mint julep, for example, is synonymous with the sport's most famous race — the Kentucky Derby. While that's common knowledge, you might not know that racing's World Championships, the Breeders' Cup, has not one but two signature co*cktails: the Torrie Cup and Garland (recipes below!)
Some traditional derby dishes include pimento cheese, tea sandwiches, and deviled eggs. Here, you'll find those recipes and so much more. Like Southern fried okra, homemade biscuits, ham and cheese sliders, and tomato pie. We've even included a few spring desserts that would be perfect for a Southern-inspired party.
Mint Julep at Kentucky Derby 2024 inflates to a whopping $22 per drink... as comparison to years past goes viral. It wouldn't be a Kentucky Derby without racegoers knocking back Mint Julep co*cktails in the stands.
Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby® honors “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of the 2024 commemorative Derby bottle.
There was just one day to go until the monumental 150th Kentucky Derby, and spectators described the anticipation as "exciting," "thrilling" and "once-in-a-lifetime." As is the tradition, most attendees wore pink or teal to nod to breast and ovarian cancer awareness.
BLUE MOON NAMED OFFICIAL CRAFT BEER OF KENTUCKY DERBY AND CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK. Forget Mint Juleps – expect to see more of Blue Moon on Derby Day. MillerCoors and Churchill Downs have agreed on a multi-year contract that grants year-round sponsorship and makes Blue Moon the official beer of the Kentucky Derby.
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