Woodford Reserve Simply Dropped Its 2024 Kentucky Derby Bourbon

Woodford Reserve just announced the release of its new 2024 commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle. Although the whiskey within the glass is the same as the Kentucky distillery’s core expression, the label design is brand-new making this a highly collectible bottle that bourbon fans are sure to take note of.

This year’s Kentucky Derby takes place on May 4, and will include all the usual fancy hats, seersucker suites, and Mint Julep-fueled parties, as well as the annual Taste of the Derby event that pairs wine with local cuisine. Woodford Reserve has been affiliated with the Derby for many years–the distillery has been the “Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby” since 2018 (a relationship that will continue through 2027), and it has been the “Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby” since 1999, the year the first Derby bottle was released.

This year marks the 150th running of the Derby, so Woodford enlisted Kentucky-born artist Wylie Caudill to design the new bottle’s label which features a painting of his called “Adorned in Roses.” “Wylie’s artwork embodies the spirit of Woodford Reserve, the liveliness of Churchill Downs during race day, and the heart of Kentucky,” said master distiller Elizabeth McCall in a statement. “I have painted my signature roses many times over the years, but this one is truly special,” added Caudill. “The colorful roses symbolize the diverse Derby fans from around the world, connecting people beyond the track.”

Woodford has released several new whiskey innovations over the past few months, including the re-release of its Double Double Oaked, the high-ABV Batch Proof, Sonoma Triple Finish, and Toasted Oak Four Grain, a whiskey that defied my expectations for that type of cask finish. As mentioned before, the bourbon in the new 2024 Derby bottle is classic Woodford bourbon, and you can find it available for purchase now (SRP $55) from ReserveBar.