Woodford Reserve, Churchill Downs to present virtual Derby content May 2
Woodford Reserve Distillers Elizabeth McCall and Chris Morris will present special content and lead a virtual toast on May 2. (Photo courtesy of Woodford Reserve.)
May 2 is going to be a day of loneliness for many who look forward to celebrating the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs will be mostly empty, and stay-at-home and social-distancing mandates will keep us from gathering for Derby parties.
Much like the Kentucky Guild of Brewers, Woodford Reserve has an alternative to keep us entertained on what would have been Derby Day 2020.
The distillery is also the presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Derby and has partnered with Churchill Downs for a nationwide, virtual celebration to somewhat keep the tradition alive on the first Saturday in May. (The actual race has been postponed, for only the second time in its history, until Sept. 5.)
The track and the distillery will offer unique social media content leading up to NBC’s re-airing of the 2015 Kentucky Derby that kicked off American Pharaoh’s Triple Crown run. The content will include virtual interactive experiences like virtual tours, alongside content like Derby-inspired recipes. They will air on the Kentucky Derby’s social media channels (@KentuckyDerby).
For its part, Woodford Reserve will offer its own programming, which will include a live session with Master Distiller Chris Morris at 2 p.m., who will demonstrate how to make “the perfect Mint Julep,” along with the history connecting bourbon and the Derby. At 3 p.m., Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall will lead a global live toast on Woodford Reserve’s YouTube channel.
“The Kentucky Derby is not just a horse race -- it’s tradition, pageantry and history -- and it brings people together from across the globe for the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” Morris said in a news release. “Now more than ever, it is important to preserve that history and keep the tradition alive.”
Another highlight will be a virtual horse race, titled The Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown. Starting April 30, Derby fans can visit the Kentucky Derby website to choose a horse to win the race, while taking donations for COVID-19 emergency relief efforts. Churchill Downs has pledged up to $1 million in matching donations.
Buffalo Trace releases experimental wheated bourbon
In other bourbon news, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced the release of an experimental wheated bourbon that was aged for four years, cut with water, then re-barreled and aged for another eight years.
The base bourbon went into the barrel at 114 proof, then was cut to 100 proof for the final aging process, which began in 2011. The finished bourbon is described by Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley as having “a nose that is sweet and floral, with notes of oak, vanilla, and a bit of leather. There’s a really smooth creamy mouthfeel here. The taste is a pleasing balance of butterscotch, honey, and wood with a crisp finish.”
In the announcement, the distillery said it has 25,000 more experimental barrels of whiskey aging. The new wheated bourbon is the 23rd experimental release by Buffalo Trace. The focus in the newest product was to study the importance of water in distilling.
“We’ve always known water was a necessary component in making whiskey,” Wheatley said. “This experiment helped us to understand how important a role water actually plays in whiskey production. The result of this experiment led us to a bourbon that is actually one of my favorite experiments.”
The bourbon will be released in 375ml bottles with a suggested retail price of $46.99. They will be available starting in May.
