Woodford Unveils $5,000 ‘Rose Mint Julep’ Honoring 150th Kentucky Derby

Posted on by Scott Dilley

Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cups Benefit the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs

In the lead up to the 150th Run for the Roses, Woodford Reserve and Brown-Forman have unveiled their annual charity Mint Julep offerings. This year, two different cups are available for purchase, with proceeds benefitting a nonprofit organization near and dear to Churchill Downs. For full details on the unique silver and gold Julep cups, including a new Mint Julep recipe, read the full press release below.

The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep cups charity program, a distinctive annual tradition, this year celebrates a sporting milestone – The 150th Running of The Kentucky Derby. 

A total of 300 rare julep cups have been created to mark the historic occasion. Each features the iconic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs adorned in either green crystals or synthetic white sapphires.

These julep cups are a tribute to 150 years of greatness. They’re a true spectacle, and every detail has been handcrafted.

Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall

The cups are an annual tradition benefiting a charity. Proceeds this year will support the Backside Learning Center, an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families at Churchill Downs.

We are excited to have been chosen by the Woodford Reserve team as the beneficiary of the julep cup proceeds this year. We see every day the hard work and sacrifice that is made by hundreds of people who are truly the unsung heroes of the sport. The awareness and support this opportunity will bring is critical to our important mission, as we provide transformational programs and services to a community that is so central to the industry.

Sherry Stanley, Executive Director at The Backside Learning Center

Handmade by Louisville-based jeweler From the Vault, each cup features the racetrack’s famed Twin Spires. The cup also features an engraving marking the 150th anniversary of The Kentucky Derby, 1875-2024.

Only 300 Cups are Available:

  • The 200 $1000 Mint Julep Cups contain embellishments of Sterling Silver (including the rose, Twin Spires, and the Woodford Reserve logo) on a base of polished pewter. It includes 44 green crystals that are hand-laid. It comes with a Sterling Silver sipping straw topped with a copper embellishment.
  • The 100 $5,000 Mint Julep Cups are gold-plated featuring 44 synthetic white sapphires. It comes with a Sterling Silver sipping straw topped with Sterling Silver embellishment. These cups include a commemorative, limited-edition coffee table book that explores the 150 years of The Kentucky Derby.

The cups can be picked up at the opulent $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 3 (Kentucky Oaks Day) or Saturday, May 4 (Derby Day). For the first time, customers can choose to have the cups shipped to their homes, arriving in time for Derby celebrations.

Woodford Reserve® is the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby®. Sales of the $1,000 Mint Julep cups start on April 9 at 10am EST on woodfordreserve.com.

The Rose Mint Julep

The mint julep recipe for 2024 features Woodford Reserve Bourbon and handmade rose-infused honey simple syrup, which honors the celebration of the 150th Run for the Roses®. 

  • 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • 1 tsp. of rose-infused honey simple syrup
  • 6 Mint Leaves
  • Miniature rose buds, for garnish
  • Directions: Wipe mint leaves inside a julep cup, expressing the fragrances and flavor. Drop the leaves in the cup. Add rose-infused honey simple syrup, crushed ice and Woodford Reserve Bourbon to the cup. Garnish with mint and miniature rose buds.

Rose-infused Honey Simple Syrup

  • Put a handful of rose hips into a jar of honey. Let it sit for two weeks.
  • Filter out any remaining rose hips.
  • Add one part rose-infused honey and one part water to make simple syrup.

About Woodford Reserve:

Woodford Reserve, “Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby,” is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, tucked in the heart of thoroughbred country in Versailles, Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark, the Woodford Reserve Distillery represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern practices. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a premier producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands including Jack Daniel’s, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, and Chambord. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us woodfordreserve.com  or check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/woodfordreserve.

Editor’s Note (April 30, 2024): The original press release mistakenly described the 44 hand-laid green crystals as emeralds on the $1,000 Cups. Descriptions of the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup materials have also been updated in this post.

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