Woodford Reserve bourbon is taking the traditional Kentucky Derby cocktail, the mint julep, to a new level by unveiling the world’s most exclusive mint julep cup. The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience will feature the most exotic ingredients in the world and a collection of 103 sterling silver mint julep cups designed by Tiffany & Co. exclusively for Woodford Reserve. Proceeds from the cup sales will benefit The Heart of a Horse Foundation, whose mission is to maintain and stimulate the unwavering well-being of horses in America.

“Woodford Reserve has been associated with the Thoroughbred community since the brand’s beginning and through the sale of these cups, we look forward to assisting The Heart of a Horse Foundation in their horse rescue mission,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager.

In addition to the 103 traditional cups, there will also be three “Prestige” cups available for auction. These sterling silver cups feature a design around the base in 24 karat gold vermeil originally used by Tiffany & Co. on a horse racing cup created in 1876, and bidding on these rare cups will start at $2,000 each.

“It is an honor to partner with Woodford Reserve for a second year while also supporting the Heart of a Horse Foundation,” said Susanne Halmi, group director of Tiffany & Co.

Owners of the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will enjoy a mint julep featuring a unique set of ingredients from around the globe: ice made of rainwater captured on the pristine island of Tasmania, Australia; rare Chocolate mint grown in San Diego, Calif.; bourbon smoked sugar from Louisville, Ky., which combined raw Demerara sugar smoked in used Woodford Reserve barrels; and a small batch of the Master Distiller’s personal selection of Woodford Reserve super-premium bourbon. The 103 traditional cups and three Prestige cups will be presented on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs in The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience located near the clubhouse escalator inside Gate 10.

“We are honored to have The Heart of a Horse Foundation chosen as the beneficiary of this year’s Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup sales,” said April Horowitz, president of the Heart of a Horse Foundation. “This program is an opportunity to promote our rescue mission and to raise awareness about horse welfare to millions of people both in America and abroad.”

2011 marks the sixth year of the $1,000 Mint Julep Experience program with over $300,000 raised for worthy equine and humanitarian causes over the past five years.

Starting April 11, 2011, at noon, (EDT) consumers age 21 years and older can log on to woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase one of the 103 traditional cups or to bid of one of the three Prestige cups. All cups purchased must be picked up by the buyer or the buyer’s proxy on May 7, Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Any unsold cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.

Copyright © 2011 BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS

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