LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Woodford Reserve's $1,000 Mint Julep charity cups pay tribute to the 150th Kentucky Derby.
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep charity cups for 2024 honor the 150th Kentucky Derby and benefit the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Image courtesy Woodford Reserve. April 9, 2024
A total of 300 cups have been handcrafted to mark the historic milestone.
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.
Created 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.
The gold cups include a commemorative, limited-edition coffee table book that explores the 150 years of The Kentucky Derby.
Proceeds from this year's sales 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
“These julep cups are a tribute to 150 years of greatness,” said Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall in a news release. “They’re a true spectacle, and every detail has been handcrafted.”
People who are lucky enough to purchase the cups can pick them up at the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 3 (Kentucky Oaks Day) or Saturday, May 4 (Derby Day). New this year, 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
- 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.
Sales of the Mint Julep cups started on April 9 at WoodfordReserve.com.
IMAGES | Woodford Reserve's $1,000 Mint Julep cups through the years
Each limited edition cup helped raise money for an equine charity.
2006 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2006 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2007 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2007 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2008 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2009 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2010 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2011 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2011 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2012 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2012 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2013 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2013 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2014 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2015 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
- Robert Grimm
2016 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2017 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2018 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2018 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2019 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2020 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2021 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
2022 Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup. Image courtesy Brown-Forman.
The 50th anniversary of Secretariat's historic Kentucky Derby win will be honored by this year's Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep. (Image courtesy Woodford Reserve/Brown Forman Corp.)
The 50th anniversary of Secretariat's historic Kentucky Derby win will be honored by this year's Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep. (Image courtesy Woodford Reserve/Brown Forman Corp.)
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep charity cups for 2024 honor the 150th Kentucky Derby and benefit the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Image courtesy Woodford Reserve. April 9, 2024
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep charity cups for 2024 honor the 150th Kentucky Derby and benefit the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Image courtesy Woodford Reserve. April 9, 2024
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Cup for the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. This year, the charity program benefits the Paris, Kentucky horse sanctuary Our Mims. (Image courtesy Brown-Forman) April 8, 2025
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Cup for the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. This year, the charity program benefits the Paris, Kentucky horse sanctuary Our Mims. (Image courtesy Brown-Forman) April 8, 2025
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Cup for the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. This year, the charity program benefits the Paris, Kentucky horse sanctuary Our Mims. (Image courtesy Brown-Forman) April 8, 2025
The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Cup for the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. This year, the charity program benefits the Paris, Kentucky horse sanctuary Our Mims. (Image courtesy Brown-Forman) April 8, 2025
The Woodford Reserve $5,000 Mint Julep Cup for the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. This year, the charity program benefits the Paris, Kentucky horse sanctuary Our Mims. (Image courtesy Brown-Forman) April 8, 2025
More coverage of Kentucky Derby 150:
- 'They're Off!' | Legendary boxer, Olympian chosen as featured speaker for Derby Festival kick-off luncheon
- Winner of Derby Burger Challenge says it's a love letter to the Kentucky Derby Festival
- Fairdale man named Thundernator for this year's Kentucky Derby Festival
- $15,000 bottle of Woodford Reserve, track upgrades will help to commemorate Kentucky Derby 150
- Gallopalooza horses will soon appear throughout Louisville, but you can see them all in one spot
- 'Louisville shines' | Kentucky Derby Festival seeking volunteers to help pull off city-wide events
- Kentucky Derby Festival adds new events to this year's lineup
- More than 300 drones will take center stage at this year's Thunder Over Louisville
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