Maker’s Mark, Keeneland launching new 10-year Kentucky bourbon bottle series

Janet Patton
·2 min read

Maker’s Mark bourbon is kicking off a new 10-year bottle series with Keeneland that will celebrate “Greats of the Gate,” all-time great racehorses.

And they are starting with Man o’ War, one of the most iconic of Thoroughbreds, who will grace the first one.

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But you’ll have to hold your horses to get a bottle: It won’t be coming out until October, unlike previous special releases that arrived in April.

The releases often were timed to the annual running of the Maker’s Mark Mile, which is April 12 during the Spring Meet, with fans lining up to get bottles at liquor stores then lining up again to get them signed at Keeneland Race Course by sports luminaries from jockeys to University of Kentucky coaches and players.

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Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are launching a new 10-year bottle series commemorating top Thoroughbred racehorses, beginning with Man o’ War. But you’ll have to wait until October to get a bottle.
Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are launching a new 10-year bottle series commemorating top Thoroughbred racehorses, beginning with Man o’ War. But you’ll have to wait until October to get a bottle.

Why is there no Keeneland, Maker’s Mark spring bottle signing?

But this year there will not be a spring bottle signing. According to a news release from Keeneland and Maker’s Mark, the bottles will come out in the fall at Kentucky retailers and benefit a variety of Bluegrass non-profits.

The first three years of the series will support Kentucky Harvest, Arts Center of the Bluegrass in Danville and Blue Grass Farms Charities. The Man o’ War bottle will support construction of a new food pantry at The Thoroughbred Center on Paris Pike, Keeneland’s year-round training facility, to help horse industry workers.

“Keeneland is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Maker’s Mark to benefit both the Thoroughbred industry and our local communities,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland and Maker’s Mark share a mission of service and philanthropy, and the commemorative bottles have been a fun way to engage our fans and support deserving organizations through the years.”

Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are launching a new 10-year bottle series commemorating top Thoroughbred racehorses, beginning with Man o’ War. But you’ll have to wait until October to get a bottle.
Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are launching a new 10-year bottle series commemorating top Thoroughbred racehorses, beginning with Man o’ War. But you’ll have to wait until October to get a bottle.

The special bottle will feature a wrap-around illustration by Kentucky artist Tyler Robertson of the Man o’ War, who competed from 1919 to 1920, winning 20 of 21 races including the Preakness and Belmont. He set records at seven tracks over various distances and is buried at the Kentucky Horse Park outside Lexington.

The bottle will be dipped in bright yellow wax and is topped with a black silk ribbon, echoing Man o’ War’s racing colors.

It’s unclear if there will be a signing planned for the fall meet.

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