Woodford Reserve® Celebrates the Run for the Roses™ with Exclusive $1,000 Mint Julep Cup for Charity

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of the 89^th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby®'s designation as the "Run for the Roses," Woodford Reserve will offer an exclusive $1,000 Mint Julep Cup to raise funds for a good cause at Kentucky Derby 140. With proceeds benefitting Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center, 89 exclusive rose-themed mint julep cups with a selection of uniquely handcrafted rose-themed ingredients will be available for purchase online beginning April 14.

In honor of the 89^th year that the Kentucky Derby has been named the Run for the Roses, there will be a total of 89 cups available for purchase online from April 14-May 1 at www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com. 79 Kentucky Rose Cups available for $1,000 each feature a gold-plated, hand-engraved medallion of a Thoroughbred adorned in the traditional Kentucky Derby Rose Garland. 10 Royal Rose Cups available for $2,000 each are gold plated with a sterling silver medallion also featuring a hand-engraved Thoroughbred wearing a rose garland.

Owners of the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will enjoy a julep featuring a unique set of rose-infused ingredients: ice infused with rose water; Bourbon Barrel Foods hand-selected and candied rose petals; mint julep simple syrup also crafted by Bourbon Barrel Foods; and Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. The 89 cups will be presented only on Kentucky Derby Day, May 3, 2014.

Woodford Reserve has also teamed up with vineyard vines® to create a custom fabric exclusively for the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup along with a collection of wearables for purchase with proceeds benefitting Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center. The wearables include a limited quantity of bowties, neckties, pocket squares and scarves available for purchase at the Woodford Reserve Distillery or by calling 859-879-1940.

"Woodford Reserve is excited to celebrate the Run for the Roses with these exclusive cups for a good cause," said Jason Kempf, Woodford Reserve Brand Director.  "Through the sale of these julep cups, we look forward to supporting Old Friends and the Thoroughbreds in their care."

2014 marks the ninth year of the program with more than $354,000 raised for equine and humanitarian causes. Fans are encouraged to follow Woodford Reserve online for exciting Kentucky Derby events and activities via Twitter at @woodfordreserve. Visit www.twitter.com/woodfordreserve for all the details.

"Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center is very grateful for all of the funds raised and recognition gained from the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program," said Michael Blowen, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center President. "We appreciate the support to help us take care of the retired racing heroes here at Old Friends."

How to Purchase a Cup
Starting April 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. E.T., consumers age 21 years and older can log on to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase one of the Kentucky Rose or Royal Rose Cups. Celebrating the 89^th year of the Kentucky Derby's designation as the Run for the Roses, a total of 89 cups are available for purchase. Each cup is presented in a box made from the same American oak as Woodford Reserve barrels and is lined with a custom silk fabric designed by the Connecticut-based lifestyle brand vineyard vines®, the Official Style of the Kentucky Derby. Online sale closes on May 1, 2014, at 12:00 p.m. E.T.

Kentucky Rose Cups
79 Kentucky Rose Cups are available for purchase online for $1,000 on a first come, first buy basis from April 14-May 1. These individually numbered cups are hand-engraved with a gold-plated medallion of a Thoroughbred adorned in the traditional Kentucky Derby Garland of Roses along with the 2014 Kentucky Derby date and Woodford Reserve logo and is accompanied by a gold-plated sipping straw. Any unsold cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.  Purchase of cup does not include admission to Churchill Downs.  Purchased cups must be claimed by buyer or his or her proxy at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. For complete terms and conditions, go to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com.

Royal Rose Cups
In addition to the 79 Kentucky Rose Cups, there are 10 Royal Rose Cups available for purchase online for $2,000 on a first come, first buy basis. These individually numbered cups are gold-plated and hand-engraved with a sterling silver medallion of a Thoroughbred adorned in the traditional Kentucky Derby Garland of Roses along with the 2014 Kentucky Derby date and Woodford Reserve logo and is accompanied by a gold-plated sipping straw. Any unsold cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.  Purchase of cup does not include admission to Churchill Downs. Purchased cups must be claimed by buyer or his or her proxy at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.  For complete terms and conditions, go to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com.

The Mint Julep Cup's Special Ingredients
This year's $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will feature uniquely handcrafted ingredients created in collaboration with Kentucky-based Bourbon Barrel Foods:

• Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby
• Ice infused with rose water
• Mint julep simple syrup crafted by Bourbon Barrel Foods
• Bourbon Barrel Foods hand-selected and candied rose petals

About Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center 
Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, Old Friends cares for more than 130 horses across three states, most of them stallions whose racing and breeding careers came to an end. They are the only Thoroughbred retirement facility that specializes in accepting stallions and so we take exceptional pride in our pensioned champions. At Old Friends, visitors can hear the stories of the horses while learning about racing and ways to help with Thoroughbred aftercare. To make a contribution supporting Old Friends, please visit http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/.

About Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve, the "Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby," is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky - the heart of thoroughbred country. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands such as Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Korbel California Champagne, Herradura Tequila, Sonoma-Cutrer Wines, Chambord Liqueur, and Tuaca Liqueur. For more information, please visit www.woodfordreserve.com. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly.

Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2014

About Churchill Downs®
Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 3, 2014 and its 2014 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 26-June 29. The track has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at  www.ChurchillDowns.com. Churchill Downs®, Kentucky Derby® and the Twin Spires design are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

About vineyard vines®
vineyard vines®, a company best known for its whimsical neckties and smiling pink whale logo, was founded in 1998 on Martha's Vineyard when brothers Shep and Ian Murray cut their ties with corporate America to start making ties that represented The Good Life. In addition to signature neckwear, vineyard vines offers a variety of clothing and accessories for men, women and children. Products are sold in over 600 specialty and department stores worldwide, through a seasonal catalog at 1.800.892.4982, online at vineyardvines.com and at over forty freestanding stores. For more information on the brand or to shop The vineyard vines for Kentucky Derby® Collection, please visit www.vineyardvines.com. 

About Bourbon Barrel Foods
Bourbon Barrel Foods is a producer of gourmet food products that reflect the rich history and heritage of Kentucky's bourbon country. They produce the only small batch artisan soy sauce in America, Bluegrass Soy Sauce, as well as other products that are enhanced with re-purposed Woodford Reserve bourbon barrel; bourbon smoked spices and sugar, flavored sugars, barrel aged Worcestershire Sauce, and pure Kentucky sweet sorghum.  Their products have been featured in the New York Times, Food and Wine, Southern Living and Garden and Gun and on the shows "How it's Made" (Discovery), "America's Heartland" (PBS), and "Good Morning America." Select Bourbon Barrel Foods products are sold across the United States at Williams-Sonoma®, Whole Foods®, Dean & Deluca® and other fine retailers. For more information visit www.bourbonbarrelfoods.com.

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SOURCE Woodford Reserve