By day, Brown-Forman employee Keith Anderson works in the company’s private dining room, Bourbon Street Café. By night, Keith is a painter. He now has a studio in his home where he paints quietly in the middle of the night and sells artwork mainly to friends and family. At the 2017 company Kentucky Derby party, while Anderson was stocking the bar, he told Mark Bacon, Senior Vice President at Brown-Forman: “These artists before me, they’re good, but I’m no slouch. One day, I will have that Derby bottle.” Well, that day has arrived.
The limited-edition Woodford Reserve Derby bottle has honored “the greatest two minutes in sports” since 1999. Beginning in 2003, Woodford Reserve began featuring the work of national artists. This year’s bottle – the 19th in the series – features Anderson’s stunning painting of powerful thoroughbreds as they break from the starting gate, in the glory of their colorful racing silks.
Kentucky Derby 144 Woodford Reserve Bottle Artist Keith Anderson
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Anderson has drawn and painted since he was a child, but he’s never been a full-time artist. He sold artworks to friends to pay his tuition at Murray State University and, later, at the University of Louisville. He now has a studio in his home where he paints quietly in the middle of the night and sells artwork mainly to friends and family.
“It has been such an honor to have my artwork considered for this year’s commemorative Derby bottle,” Anderson said. “To have my artwork chosen is a dream come true.”
“Sometimes we overlook the very talent that’s right in front of us,” Bacon said. “We are deeply honored to start this new partnership with Churchill Downs – and to celebrate it with the beautiful artwork of Keith Anderson.”
The 2018 Kentucky Derby® Bottle hits shelves nationwide in March 2018 with a suggested retail price of $43.99.
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