With the star magnolias and daffodils in bloom and the tulips soon to follow it can only mean one thing – springtime in Kentucky. And that means we are only a few weeks away from the first Saturday in May and the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby – ‘The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®.
Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, the presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, has been unveiling a commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle each year since 1999 and this year is no exception.
The 2026 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle features the artwork of Anna P. Murphy. Anna was born in England and moved to Kentucky at the age of 12. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Louisville in 2011 and now resides in Chicago. Anna has never really given up her old Kentucky home as she is also the steward of her family’s 33-acre farm in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Introducing ‘Dress to Impress 152’
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Anna, along with Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall introduced the 2026 bottle at Churchill Downs.
This year’s bottle features Anna’s signature ‘blue and white’ porcelain-inspired style in a painting she calls ‘Dress to Impress, 152’. The artwork is a radiant tribute to Derby fashion, where bold style, timeless tradition, and the spirit of celebration come to life. The artwork also features the Derby’s iconic red roses and other symbolic florals, including speedwell, historically gifted for protection during travel.
“I was so excited when they first talked to me about it,” said Artist Anna Murphy. “I said, ‘Can I do something that celebrates the fashion of the Derby?’ It was really exciting for me to design my own clothes for the painting and show the spirit for the people watching the race.
“This painting is in my signature color pallet of blue and gold. It’s intentionally bold with deep elegant blue with luminous and celebratory gold and a puff of Derby red for the vibrant energy of race day. I added red roses for the Derby and speedwell (a colorful perennial flower), which were historically gifted for safety during travel. And then orchids that represent beauty and luxury and the angel trumpet that represent divinity and transformation. I have 152 on the horse that represents this year’s Derby. I wanted to capture that spirit and excitement of seeing the last few seconds of the race.”
We asked Anna if there were any Easter Eggs hiding in the painting and as is often done in the Kentucky Derby painting, the answer is yes.
“There is a secret hiding in the painting,” explained Anna. “The guy in the middle with the fedora is my dad. You can’t see his face, but you can see his profile.
“At the heart of my work is a simple mission: to create beauty that leaves people feeling uplifted and carrying a little more wonder into the world.”
What’s in the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Bottle?
The bourbon in the bottle is the standard Woodford Reserve bourbon bottled at 90.4 proof (42.5%ABV). This year’s bottle comes with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the one-liter bottle of $50 and is available now for purchase globally and at Woodford Reserve Distillery.
Woodford Reserve Bourbon 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, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, and Chambord.
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