Depending on how many winning tickets you cashed in at last year’s Kentucky Derby, this might be an offer you can’t refuse. Woodford Reserve announced its annual $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cup program this week. (Making mint juleps this time of year gives you a chance to finally use that new muddler tool on your home bar.)
There will be 151 cups available, commemorating the number of this year’s Derby: 51 polished pewter cups for $1000 each and 100 cups with sterling silver and heavy gold plate for $5000 each.
The sale this year honors the three fillies that won the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports:” – Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988).
Proceeds from this year’s julep cups sales will benefit Our Mims Retirement Haven. Our Mims is a retirement farm for fillies and broodmares just outside Paris, Kentucky. The farm is named after the 1977 Eclipse Champion 3-year-old filly, Our Mims.
“We are honored that the Woodford Reserve team selected us as the philanthropic partner of their mint julep charity cup program this year,” said Pete Mirabito, President of Our Mims. “Fillies and mares are the backbone of the industry. This partnership will allow us to further rescue, revitalize and care for these retired thoroughbred racehorses and broodmares.”
You can pre-purchase a Mint Julep Cup (or two) and pick it up a the $5,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience during The Kentucky Oaks (Friday, May 2) or The Kentucky Derby (Friday, May 3) at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
"As we anticipate the 151st Run for the Roses, we celebrate the exceptional fillies who have etched their names in Derby history. Perhaps this year we will witness the crowning of another champion filly.”
This year’s mint julep recipe features three mint varieties to honor the three winning fillies:
The Filly Mint Julep
2 oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
One barspoon of hand-crafted simple syrup
1 sprig of chocolate mint
1 spring of peppermint
1 spring of spearmint
Directions: Mix bourbon and simple syrup in the bottom of a julep cup, then fill with crushed ice. Garnish with three springs of mint.
Source: Woodford Reserve
