How to Make the Official Woodford Reserve 2026 $5,000 Kentucky Derby Semiquincentennial Mint Julep Cocktail [Video]

Woodford Reserve Distillery - 2026 Kentucky Derby 152 $2,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Cups, Made with Double Oaked

Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, has been the official sponsor of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs for more than 20 years and this year is no exception. Each year Woodford Reserve releases a custom bottle label for the Kentucky Derby and a special version of the Mint Julep to celebrate that ‘fastest two minutes in sports’ along with the ‘best two ounces of bourbon’.

The 2026 Woodford Reserve Mint Julep Celebrates Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary

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This year’s Woodford Reserve Kentucky Mint Julep is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States through one of its most cherished Kentucky Derby traditions, the $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cup program. This year’s luxury julep cup honors the nation’s founding and benefits a charity devoted to American craftsmanship. Every cup is hand-crafted by Graham Newton of From The Vault and features a sculpted thoroughbred horse surrounded by thirteen stars paying tribute to the original thirteen colonies.

“This year’s julep charity program marries two historic events – the birth of the United States and the most iconic American race, run every year at Churchill Downs since 1875,” Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said.

How to Make the Woodford Reserve 2026 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep

Where Does the Money Raised from the $5,000 and $2,000 Mint Julep Cup Go?

Churchill Downs - First Derby 1875 to 2026, 152nd Running of the Kentucky Derby — Woodford Reserve 2026 Kentucky Derby 152 $2,000 Mint Julep Cup.

The collection includes 152 total cups with 76 polished pewter cups ($2,000) and 76 gold-plated cups ($5,000). Both editions feature a sterling silver horse and stars application adorned with 13 lab-created white sapphires, offered in polished pewter and gold-plated sterling silver.

Net proceeds from the sale of this year’s Mint Julep Cup program benefit Closely Crafted, a nonprofit founded by New York milliner Gigi Burris O’Hara dedicated to preserving and advancing artisan craftsmanship in the American fashion industry.

The organization works to cultivate the wellbeing of artisans by supporting education, apprenticeship pathways, and industry collaboration that strengthen domestic production and local craft communities across the United States. Burris O’Hara previously collaborated with Woodford Reserve on a limited-edition Derby hat collection for the 151st Kentucky Derby.

“As an artisan, I founded Closely Crafted to build community and ensure that skills like millinery and other specialty trades are passed on to a new generation of artisans,” O’Hara said. “Woodford Reserve shares a deep respect for handcrafted work, integrity, and the people behind it. We are honored that Closely Crafted will benefit from this year’s Mint Julep Cup program as we celebrate the enduring legacy of American craftsmanship.”

How to Make the 2026 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep

Woodford Reserve Distillery - 2026 Kentucky Derby 152 $5,000 Mint Julep Cup — 2026 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 152 $5,000 Mint Julep Cup.

Woodford Reserve Distillery - 2026 Kentucky Derby 152 $2,000 Mint Julep Cup — 2026 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 152 $5,000 Mint Julep Cup.

Ingredients

2 ounces Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
Organic Maple Simple Syrup – Organic maple syrup cut with water 50/50, slightly spiced with Thomas Jefferson’s favorite spices, cinnamon and mace (nutmeg).
Mint
Crushed Ice
A red rose

We know what you’re thinking – how can a self-defense spray be used for cooking? Mace spice is actually an aromatic golden-brown spice derived from the coating of the nutmeg seed. Nutmeg trees predominantly grow in the tropical regions of Indonesia and produce both nutmeg and mace spice.

The Recipe

A classically simple julep honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Drop 5-7 mint leaves in the bottom of a julep cup. Muddle to release the aromas then remove.
Add 2 ounces of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
Add one bar spoon of Maple Simple Syrup
Top the julep cup with ice.
Add sipping straw and two sprigs of fresh mint and the garnish – a white and blue Fleur-de-lis and the official flower of both the Kentucky Derby and the USA – the red rose. A red, white, and blue flourish to celebrate USA 250.

Woodford Reserve, “Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby,” 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.