The Woodford Reserve unveils the new $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep cups for the 150th Running of The Kentucky Derby.
BourbonBlog.com reports live from Churchill Downs today to cover this annual tradition which for 2024 celebrates a sporting milestone of Kentucky Derby 150.
Watch Master Distiller Liz McCall and Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris make the julep in the video below. Learn more about the rare cups, how to purchase one, and get the special Mint Julep cocktail recipe for 2024.
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 emeralds or crystals.
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.
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.
How to Purchase One of Only 300 Cups:
- 200 are silver cups, priced at $1,000, featuring 44 emeralds.
- 100 are gold cups, priced at $5,000, featuring 44 crystals. The gold cups include a commemorative, limited-edition coffee table book that explores the 150 years of The Kentucky Derby.
Sales of the $1,000 Mint Julep cups start on April 9 at 10am EST on woodfordreserve.com.
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.
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.
The Rose Mint Julep Recipe
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.
Special thanks: Jevon Dade, photography / reporting live from Churchill Downs
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