A $1,000 mint julep? How to get your hands on the (pricey!) drink with a Secretariat tie
Kirby Adams
Have you ever thought about sipping a cocktail that costs $1,000? Well, you can during the Kentucky Derby.
The beneficiary of the 2023 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep charity program, one of the Kentucky Derby’s most distinctive annual traditions, was announced Thursday at Churchill Downs. This year, the program honors the 50th anniversary of Secretariat winning the Kentucky Derby, a historic moment in thoroughbred history.
"The world's greatest racehorse deserves the world's greatest mint julep program, "said Chirs Morris, master distiller emeritus for Woodford Reserve. "This year we celebrate the greatest achievement in Derby history, Secertriat winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby in a 1:59: 2/5th. For this Secretariat is still remembered today, 50 years later."
This year, all proceeds benefit the Secretariat Foundation, which was created by Penny Chenery, who owned Secretariat, to support thoroughbred and equine-related industries. Chenery passed away in 2017, but her children continue operating the charity in her memory.
Handmade by Louisville-based jeweler From the Vault, each cup features a design of Secretariat’s famed blue and white checkered silks in sapphires. One side of the cup features an engraving of 1973, the year Secretariat won The Kentucky Derby, and the other features 2023, according to a news release announcing the charity program.
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Of the 150 cups available, 100 are silver cups retailing for $1,000 and 50 are gold cups retailing for $3,500. Everyone purchasing the gold cups will have their names engraved on the bottom (purchase must be made before April 26) and they will receive the handwritten autograph of Secretariat jockey Ron Turcotte. All cups will be nestled in silk artwork of Secretariat in the Winner’s Circle at Churchill Downs.
The mint julep recipe features Woodford Reserve Bourbon and handmade chestnut liqueur, which honors Secretariat’s chestnut coat, as well as mint and Virginia bluebell flowers to celebrate the state where Secretariat was born.
"Secretariat is one of the most iconic thoroughbreds in horse racing history, and it’s an honor to celebrate his enduring legacy through our $1,000 Mint Julep program," Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said in the news release. "The money raised from this charity program will help ensure the impact of Secretariat is told for many years to come."
A total of 150 cups will be available at woodfordreservemintjulep.com starting April 13. Cups must be picked up at Churchill Downs on Derby Day at the $1,000 Mint Julep Experience in the paddock.
Before unveiling the design of the 2023 mint julep cup and announcing the charitable foundation to benefit from the sales, Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, addressed the tragic events at the Old National Bank on April 10.
"In troubling times, our traditions can bring us comfort. When things feel off, predictability can feel like security or a safety blanket," Anderson said. "Louisville has always been known as the city of charitable compassion and each year Woodford Reserve finds a most unique way to facilitate that spirit. This year's initiative honors a hero in horse racing and a champion who still inspires hope in our nation."
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Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
Secretariat's Mint Julep
- 2 ounces Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1-ounce chestnut liqueur
- 1 sprig of mint, for garnish
- 1 stalk of Virginia bluebells, for garnish
Mix, then pour over a julep cup filled with crushed ice. Garnish with one sprig of mint and one stalk of Virginia bluebells.