Woodford Reserve® Celebrates History and Heritage in 2017 Kentucky Derby® $1,000 Mint Julep Cup

In 1872, Churchill Downs founder Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to England to attend the Epsom Derby - a popular horse race attended by British royalty and high society. Upon returning to the states, he modeled the Kentucky Derby after the Epsom Derby elevating horse racing to a more sophisticated affair. Inspired by this history, this one-of a kind julep features traditional British ingredients with a unique garnish of mint, baby's breath and edible, dehydrated blue cornflowers representative of both sides of the Atlantic.

Woodford Reserve^® 2017 Kentucky Derby^® Mint Julep 

1.5 oz Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
1/4 oz Pimm's Liqueur®
1/2 oz Elderflower Cordial
1/4 oz Woodford Reserve®Mint Julep Simple Syrup
1 dash Earl Grey bitters
Handful of mint

Rub mint around the julep cup, expressing the essential oils. Add remaining ingredients and top with crushed ice. Churn ingredients with a bar spoon distributing the flavor. Top with additional crushed ice. Garnish with a bundle of baby's breath and mint. Sprinkle with dehydrated edible blue cornflowers.

"Woodford Reserve is honored to bring together two of Kentucky's greatest traditions once again through our $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program," said Mark Bacon, Woodford Reserve Global Brand Director. "We're proud to honor the rich history of the Kentucky Derby with a premium celebration through our  $1,000 Mint Julep Cup experience."

The cups are handcrafted by Louisville-based jeweler From the Vault. Each cup is adorned with embellishments representative of this year's theme. Three horses in stride adorn the cup, inspired by British photographer Eadweard Muybridge's famous "The Horse in Motion" filmstrip which was the first proof that all four hooves leave the ground at a gallop.

"In addition to the horses, the cups also feature three additional sterling silver embellishments," said Graham Newton, From the Vault Jeweler. "A crown representing the rich history of the British inspired Derby; a rose as an ode to the "Run for the Roses™" and a horseshoe providing each cup buyer with an extra stroke of luck. Together, these details create a trilogy of flight around the cup as horse and jockey pass a crown, rose, and horseshoe on the way."

This history is brought to life through individually hand casted applications in rich sterling silver. The $1,000 cups feature 18 karat yellow gold over the sterling silver horse and riders, the crown, rose and horseshoe. The $2,500 cups are gold-plated sterling silver with a 24 karat heavy reliquary quality gold plating, with a striking contrast of high polished sterling silver detail.

Each Cup will be presented in a silk "purse" inspired by the "purse" of winnings given to the victors of a horse race.

Each year, Woodford Reserve selects a charitable organization to receive the net proceeds from the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup sales with more than $450,000 raised for equine and racing charities to-date. This year's receiving charity is not-for-profit Kentucky Derby Museum supporting the mission to preserve the rich history, tradition, hospitality and pride of the world-renowned event that is the Kentucky Derby.

"The Kentucky Derby Museum is honored by the support from Woodford Reserve and the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program. At the heart of our mission, we are dedicated to celebrating the long-standing history and tradition of the Kentucky Derby, just as this year's special cup design exemplifies," said Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO.

Click here for images and 360 video of the cups.

How to Purchase a Cup
Beginning April 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. E.T., consumers ages 21 years and older can log on to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase one of the Noble Cups or Royal Cups. The sale closes on May 5, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. E.T.

Any unsold cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs^® on Kentucky Derby Day.  Purchase of cup does not include admission to Churchill Downs. Purchased cups must be claimed by buyer or his or her proxy at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. For complete terms and conditions, please visit www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com.

Noble Cups
90 Noble Cups are available for purchase online for $1,000 on a first come, first buy basis from April 10-May 6. These individually numbered cups feature artwork inspired by Eadweard Muybridge's revolutionary "horse in motion" film strip, along with rose, crown and horseshoe embellishments, the 2017 Kentucky Derby date and Woodford Reserve logo. The Cup is accompanied by a gold-plated sipping straw.

Royal Cups
In addition to the 90 $1,000 Noble Cups, there are 15 gold-plated Royal Cups available for purchase online for $2,500 on a first come, first buy basis from April 10-May 6. These individually numbered cups feature artwork inspired by Eadweard Muybridge's revolutionary "horse in motion" film strip, along with rose, crown and horseshoe embellishments, the 2017 Kentucky Derby date and Woodford Reserve logo. The Cup is accompanied by a silver sipping straw.

About Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve, the "Official Bourbon 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, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, Sonoma-Cutrer and Chambord. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us www.woodfordreserve.com or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodfordreserve.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., produced and bottled by the Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2017

WOODFORD RESERVE is a registered trademark of Brown-Forman.  All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

About Kentucky Derby Museum (DerbyMuseum.org)
Kentucky Derby Museum, a 501(C)(3) non-profit public charity organization in Louisville, Kentucky has a commitment to ENGAGE, EDUCATE and EXCITE everyone about the extraordinary experience that is the KENTUCKY DERBY.

About Churchill Downs Racetrack:
Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 143^nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2017. The track's 2017 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 29-June 30. The track has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships eight times. For more information visit www.ChurchillDowns.com

SOURCE Woodford Reserve