The popular Maker’s Mark Bourbon Keeneland commemorative bottles return to shelves across the Bluegrass State this Friday, April 7, the opening day of the Keeneland Spring Meet. Less than 10,000 of the limited-edition bottles of bourbon will be available and generally sell out in one day.
Through a strategic partnership with LexArts, greater Lexington’s premier cultural development, advocacy and fundraising organization, the proceeds from this year’s commemorative bottle release will benefit the creation of a permanent public art legacy project. Miniature bronze horses will be creatively placed through downtown Lexington to create an interactive tour that heralds past and present stories of Kentucky culture.
“Keeneland and Maker’s Mark continues to be excellent partners of the arts and their significant corporate support is to be commended,” said LexArts President & CEO, Ame Sweetall. “In this community-building legacy project, cleverly hidden miniature horse sculptures will continue to celebrate Lexington as the Horse Capital of the World and will include additional educational engagement opportunities for Lexington’s residents and visitors.”
For the third year, the commemorative bottles will showcase three distinct label designs featuring the work of artists Sandra Oppegard, Andre Pater and Tyler Robertson. The label art depicts winning jockeys from the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.
Each label is signed by the artist who created the design, plus Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin and Eighth Generation Whisky Maker & Maker’s Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels. The labels will also be signed by one of three winning jockeys from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships: Flavien Prat (Classic), Tyler Gaffalione (Juvenile Fillies and Turf Sprint) and Hall of Famer John Velazquez (Distaff).
“Keeneland is proud to team up with Maker’s Mark and LexArts on this unique initiative to celebrate public art and Central Kentucky’s signature horse industry,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “We all share a mission to enhance life in the local community, and supporting the arts is fundamental toward that goal.”
Maker’s Mark and Keeneland have collaborated on a commemorative bottle release for 26 years, every year since 1997, raising millions of dollars for various worthy causes throughout Central Kentucky.
“Maker’s Mark shares LexArts’ enthusiasm for celebrating and sharing Kentucky culture. It’s why we invite thousands of visitors to our home in Loretto each year and why lasting partnerships with organizations like Keeneland are so important to us,” said Eighth Generation Whisky Maker & Managing Director Rob Samuels. “We are honored to use the funds raised through this year’s commemorative bottles to support LexArts and public art projects throughout the state.”
