Old Forester Mint Julep Bottling Will Give You A Bit Of The Kentucky Derby Life At Home

The annual horse racing tradition which is the Kentucky Derby is entering its 141st running since it began back in 1875. It is a big event not just for the horses and high society in Louisville, but also the bourbon industry which fuels a good chunk of the local economy. Expect therefore a few announcements of bottlings tied to the race, such as the new Old Forester Mint Julep release from Brown-Forman.

The Old Forester Mint Julep heralds from a bourbon brand begun in 1870. Despite the long history of it however, basically running parallel to that of the Derby in terms of length of time, this is the first time the two have officially been brought together. The ready to serve, 60-proof cocktail made with Old Forester bourbon this bottling holds, to this end, was named official drink of the Derby. It is expected that over the course of this race, plus an associated event, that close to 120,000 mint juleps will be consumed.

For those not making it to the race, you can instead snag the 1-liter commemorative bottle for around $25. Now I don’t normally go for pre-made cocktails in a bottle like this myself, preferring to leave it up to some of my favorite bartenders around Portland to make them. I’m just curious enough as to what’s in the bottle though I might get a few friends together, buy a bottle and watch the Derby while pretending I’m enjoying the sights and sounds of the bourbon lifestyle.