The other day we told you about Woodford Reserve's limited edition bottle for the Kentucky Derby. Now Woodford, the official bourbon of the famed race, which takes place on May 2, is offering the world's most exclusive mint julep for $1,000. It's made with sugar cane cut and crushed by hand from Sainte Marie in the Reunion Island of France; Turkish mint grown near the Euphrates River; ice made of water from an aquifer in the wilderness of Central Norway; and a small batch of the Master Distiller's personal selection of Woodford Reserve super-premium bourbon. Of course for $1,000 you get to the keep the cup. Made of sterling silver plated in 24-karat gold, it's adorned with jockey silks representing the Woodford Reserve Stables. The cups are made by New England Sterling, the official trophy maker of the Kentucky Derby.

Each comes with a sterling silver straw and an oak box crafted from the same wood as Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels, lined in black satin. There are 96 of the cups available for purchase from April 13 - 29 via their website; you have to pick them up (along with the julep) in person at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. Additionally, there are three extra-special Legends Cups which also feature three diamonds – one for each leg of the Triple Crown – and each one is in honor of a different living Triple Crown-winning jockey. You can bid on your favorite jockey from those offered in the Legends Cups, and the cup has his signature engraved on it. Bidding for the Legends Cups starts at $1,000. Proceeds from the cups will benefit The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and The Robby Albarado Foundation.

[via JustLuxe]

Woodford Reserve, the "Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby", crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky in the heart of thoroughbred country, has released its limited edition 2009 Kentucky Derby liter-sized bottle (right) featuring artwork by retired jockey Tom Chapman.

Chapman's eye-catching image captures the excitement and intensity of the Kentucky Derby as two jockeys in brightly-colored silks concentrate on the race with the historic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs in the background. The artist's signature adorns the neck band of the bottle, and an attached tag bears information about the artist and product.

Woodford Reserve, an award-winning small-batch bourbon, has served as the Derby's official bourbon for the past 11 years. It also sponsors a Grade I race, the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, which is run on Derby Day, May 2, 2009, and has become one of thoroughbred racing's premier events.

"Much as we try, it's impossible to express in words the intensity of racing from a jockey's perspective," Chapman says. "My goal is to capture it with a paint brush and canvas, often using unique angles and vibrant colors to set the tone. But no painting can truly capture the vibrancy and intensity of the Kentucky Derby."

With the Kentucky Derby coming up on May 2 we start thinking seriously about bourbon. As Fred Noe, Jim Beam's seventh-generation distiller, puts it, "It ain't a Derby without bourbon, and it ain't bourbon if it's not from Kentucky." Noe knows whereof he speaks, given that Jim Beam, which dates back to 1795 and is now he world's No. 1-selling bourbon, is located in Louisville not far from Churchill Downs where the Derby has been held since 1875. In addition to the classic Jim Beam Bourbon we're all familiar with however, there are some other variations which are well worth trying on an important bourbon-drinking occasion like the Derby: Jim Beam 7-Year, Jim Beam Black, and Jim Beam Choice (above, left to right).

Jim Beam Black is the oldest of the trio. Eight years of aging make for a complex, sophisticated taste, with aromas of toffee and tobacco and flavorful notes of oak and toasted grains. Jim Beam Choice, aged five years, is rounded and mature with added complexity and depth from charcoal filtering. The strong aroma of oak and sweet nuttiness is balanced by a rich, creamy flavor. Jim Beam 7-Year is ideal for drinking straight up or on the rocks, and it makes a mean mint julep, with notes of caramel and vanilla. In 2008, Derby-goers consumed nearly 10,000 bottles of bourbon, mixed into 120,000 mint juleps, the Derby's official drink.

To help celebrate on Derby Day, here's a new variation on the mint julep which you can make with your favorite variety of Jim Beam. Bottoms up:

Jim Beam Jule-Up
4 parts Jim Beam Bourbon
3 parts Simple Syrup
3 parts Fresh Lime Juice
6 each Fresh Mint leaves (Medium size)
*note: 1 part = ½ oz.

Old Forester, the only bourbon produced before, during and after Prohibition, has just issued its annual Birthday Bourbon (above) in honor of founder George Garvin Brown. This year's edition is crafted from a 62 barrel batch that was distilled and barreled in the late summer of 1995. Chris Morris, master distiller of Old Forester, notes that the barrels were then stored on an upper floor of the warehouse in Kentucky, which builds heat in the summer months "ensuring a robust, complex barrel character will develop."

The result, Morris says, is a taste profile that is "much more chewy in terms of rich fruit and caramel character than the 2007 and 2006 releases." Unlike the standard Old Forester, which is a blend of whisky from several different years, Birthday Bourbon is a vintage-dated bourbon, hand-selected by Morris from one specific day. The result is a "one-of-a-kind character and flavor that will never be replicated again," the distillery declares. Its unique decanter style glass bottle is a throwback to the late 1800's.

Well it was nearly a year behind the schedule we wrote about when it was first announced in 2006 but the SouthShore Condominiums in Newport, Kentucky is finally open.The KY Post reports that sixty percent of the 65 luxury units on 17 floors have already sold. The SouthShore is one of many condo projects rising in this area of the Ohio River. Each unit has a river view from the living room and master bedroom with with floor-to-ceiling glass. Building amenities include an exercise area, putting green, swimming pool, hot tub and sun deck and the Shore Club has a bar, cooking area, fireplaces and big-screen TVs. There will also be a 100-slip marina out in front. Prices for units still available range from $300,000 to $3 million.

Maker's Mark, the top shelf Kentucky bourbon that traces its roots all the way back to 1780, just celebrated September's demarcation as National Bourbon Heritage Month during the 17th Annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival down South. The storied whisky maker isn't resting on its laurels however; they also just kicked off an admirable new campaign to encourage people to vote in the upcoming elections with a 16-city cross country bus tour and two new special limited edition bottlings featuring red, white and blue wax seals.

The story of Maker's, which is handmade in small quantities using water from a spring-fed lake and a mash consisting of corn, barley and winter wheat, goes back to 1870 when third generation Scottish-Irish immigrant Robert Samuels arrived in Kentucky. A farmer by trade, Samuels began making whisky for himself and a few friends. His grandson T.W. erected the family's first "commercial" distillery at Samuels Depot, the family farm, in 1840.

Fast-forward 100 years and the story takes an unexpected turn. T.W.'s great-great-grandson Bill Samuels Sr. was not overly fond of the "secret" family recipe - so he literally burnt it and sold off the distillery, which had become overly commercial. He then spent several years experimenting with different grains until he developed a entirely new bourbon recipe based on locally grown maize (corn), malted barley and soft, red, gentle winter wheat - as opposed to the traditional and harsher grain, rye.

It's already happening in Massachusetts and New York, now the next state to turn a former mental health facility into quality real estate is Kentucky. The creepy Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville will become a 78-room boutique hotel with a spa, fitness center and meeting space for business groups. The historic landmark, which once housed tuberculosis patients is reputedly haunted and has been on a variety of televisions shows as one of the most haunted places in the U.S.

Charles Mattingly and his wife Tina, who bought the property in $225,000 for 2001 are planning to keep the ghostly theme of the building during the $18 million renovation. The couple have lived on the property for the last year and have videos that show steaks of light and glowing orbs. The Real Waverly Hills website has a file dedicated to paranormal photos. There is also a slideshow with recent photos that show a building in need of some serious work.. The Mattinglys are planning an eco-friendly hotel with a solar-powered electric system, geothermal heating, a parking structure with a rooftop garden and floors made of either cork or recycled rubber. While the couple are hoping that the ghostly allure will attract some customers they are also hoping that the hotel will attract those who may not be aware of its spooky reputation.

In celebration of Big Brown's seemingly inevitable Triple Crown victory at tomorrow's Belmont Stakes, our favorite small batch bourbon Woodford Reserve has created a special cocktail. The "Big Brown Triple Crown" recipe is as follows:

1 1/2 ounces Woodford Reserve
3 ounces Sweet and Sour Mix
3 dashes Chambord (1/4 ounce)

Shake vigorously and strain into a tall glass with ice. Garnish with 3 blackberries (one for each crown, natch).

The Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, founded in 1812, is a National Historic Landmark with strong ties to horseracing. It was selected as the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, and as we can personally attest, it also makes a mean mint julep. Check out the BBTC cocktail and more in the gallery.

Last year Woodford Reserve gave 50 traditional mint juleps a $1000 upgrade at the Kentucky Derby by using exotic ingredients and serving them in gold cups with silver straws. With the drinks providing such a unique keepsake and proceeds benefiting retired horses and jockeys through Thoroughbred Charities of America, the $1000 juleps were huge a success. So this year they'll be coming around again -- only with even more flair than before.

This year there will be a julep cup representing each of the Derby winners all the way from the first, Aristides, to the most recent, Barbaro. Those two, plus the 11 triple crown winners in between, will be auctioned off online between April 17th and May 1st -- and of course somewhat of a bidding war is expected over Barbaro's cup (it will be interesting to see who wins out on that one). Altogether this year there will be a grand total of 133 special edition mint juleps made, with only 10 being held back for sale at the actual race. In addition to those 10, and the 13 up for online auction, 109 are available to purchase online for $1000 each (first come first buy), and one will be reserved and sent to this year's Derby winner, free of charge.

As before, the juleps will leave nothing wanting in the way of exotic ingredients from around the world, featuring mint from Ireland, organic sugar from Australia, ice from the Bavarian Alps, and of course bourbon from Woodford Reserve.

As a rule, I don't highlight homes in progress unless they are truly interesting. But I don't often seem contemporary homes being built in the horse country of Lexington, Kentucky. This modern home sits on over 10 acres of Bluegrass land. The home is on a private lane and has both a main house and separate guest quarters. The modern home will have a reflecting pool along the front entry and access will be via a bridge over the pool and a water fall with pool installed along the rear. The tower includes a balcony. The home is all angles and glass and steel. The only traditional notes seem to be the massive brick fireplaces and the Kentucky Walnut floors. There will be an indoor/outdoor spa room with glass walls, skylights, outside limestone shower, Finlander sauna and whirlpool. The home will have an impressive Artemedia Kitchen from Valcucine done in gray glass with graffiti artwork signed by the artist and the latest high-end appliances.

The master bedroom is on the first floor and will have a tub and limestone shower and stairs leading to a dressing room and the spa room.There will also be a media room with a viewing platform and motorized curtains. The second level will have three bedroom suits with private baths. Other features include a solar heating system, library, dog wash and an office. The guest quarters include a living room, kitchen with laundry and a master suite and there is also a three car garage. It is listed at $4.25 million. After the jump, future Dwell eye candy.

It used to be that in Louisville, Kentucky, hotel choices were pretty simple, it was the Brown or the Seelbach. Now there are a host of exciting projects set to renovate the downtown area, some already open like the 21C Museum and Hotel and some yet to come. More plans have been revealed for the Museum Plaza, a massive project which will dominate the downtown area. It has now been announced that the 62-story skyscraper will have a 246-room Westin Hotel with a ballroom, fitness center, spa, three-meal restaurant and a bar/lounge. The project also includes luxury condos and an elevated park. The $465 million Museum Plaza project is expected to bring over 10,000 tourists per day and provide a huge boost to the Kentucky economy. Construction on the project should begin in summer 2007 and last through fall of 2010. You can watch video on the project from a local Lousiville news station here.

In honor of the Kentucky Derby, our estate of the day takes us to this great property in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the most beautiful houses in Old Louisville, Rostrevor was created in 1908 by design firm Carrere & Hastings. The 23-room mansion was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jouett Ross Todd. The home is built of limestone and has a Renaissance style with a red tile roof. The property has classic lines and details that include ornate moldings and stone fireplaces. There is a wood paneled library, formal dining room and a wine cellar. The landscaped grounds of over two acres include an additional lot, formal gardens, a swimming pool and a three-car garage. It is listed at $7.5 million. A few pictures of the elegant interior after the jump.

If you are thinking of heading to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby it's still not too late to rent a local house but it will cost you. Like Super Bowl houses the Kentucky Derby options run from the relatively modest to the deeply extravagant. This five-bedroom home has a master suite with a Jacuzzi, formal dining room and a workout area. It comes with six free Derby tickets and rents for $50,000 Thursday through Saturday.

If you are in Kentucky this week and looking for a special place to eat far away from the Derby madness, you might want to check out the Holly Hill Inn. The historic restaurant is deep in the horse country of Midway, about an hour from Louisville. The inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the cuisine is elegant and fresh with a French flair. They serve a prix fixe menu Wednesday through Saturday with a three-course dinner menu for  $35, four courses for $40. and a five-course dinner for $45. They also have an impressive wine list chosen by sommelier/owner Chris Michel. I had the pleasure of eating here a couple of years ago and can highly recommend both the food and the lovely bucolic setting.

[via Wine Spectator]

Just in time for Derby season, a new hotel has opened in Louisville, Kentucky. The 21C Museum and Hotel is located in downtown Louisville and offers 90 rooms including six suites. The rooms have high ceilings, flat-screen televisions, 450-thread-count sheets, iPods and original works of art from the owners' $10 million collection. The hotel also includes a 5,000-square-foot contemporary art museum and a fitness center as well as a new restaurant, Proof on Main that serves American cuisine with a Tuscan flair. Room start at $199, but Derby weekend is already all booked up. Given that many most of Louisville's luxury hotel options are more on the traditional side, it's nice to see a touch of modern come to downtown.

[via Hotel Newswire]