People lose their minds over the Kentucky Derby. It’s not just the horses or the giant hats that look like they might catch a breeze and carry the wearer across the Ohio River. It’s the ritual. Every year, collectors and casual drinkers alike wait for one specific thing: the commemorative bottle. But let’s be real for a second. The Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby release wasn't just another annual bottle. It was the "big one." The sesquicentennial. 150 years of dirt flying, hearts racing, and people pretending they know how to handicap a race after three Mint Juleps.
Honestly, if you missed out on the initial drop, you're probably seeing these things on the secondary market for prices that would make a sane person blink twice. Woodford Reserve has been the "Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby" since 1999, but for the 150th anniversary in 2024, they really leaned into the history. They had to. You don't hit 150 years and just slap a basic sticker on a bottle.
The Artist Behind the 150th Anniversary Glass
Most people buy the bottle because it looks cool on a bar cart. I get it. But there’s a story on the glass. For the Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby edition, they tapped Kentucky native Wylie Caudill. If you’ve spent any time in Lexington, you’ve likely seen his murals. He’s known for these bold, swirling floral patterns that feel alive.
The artwork, titled "Adorned in Roses," is basically a love letter to Churchill Downs. It features a racing horse covered in—you guessed it—red roses. But it’s the background that’s actually interesting. Caudill included 150 roses in the design. It's one of those "if you know, you know" details. He also snuck in some smaller horses hidden within the patterns. It's a far cry from the more traditional, almost photorealistic paintings we saw on the bottles in the early 2000s. It feels modern. It feels like Kentucky right now, not just Kentucky in a history book.
Some purists hated it. They wanted something that looked like an old oil painting of a jockey from 1920. But that’s the thing about Woodford—they try to bridge that gap between the "Old Guard" of bourbon and the new generation of drinkers who actually care about the aesthetic as much as the mash bill.
What’s Actually Inside the Bottle?
Here is the part where I have to be the bearer of potentially disappointing news for the "bourbon taters" out there. The liquid inside the Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby commemorative liter is the standard Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select.
Yeah. It’s the same 90.4 proof bourbon you can find at any decent liquor store.
👉 See also: Fitness Models Over 50: Why the Industry is Finally Paying Attention
Does that matter? For some, yeah. They wanted a special blend or a higher age statement for the 150th. But Woodford's logic is pretty simple: the Distiller’s Select is their flagship. It’s a triple-distilled blend of pot still spirits from their Versailles distillery and column still spirits from the Brown-Forman plant in Shively. It’s consistent. You get that heavy hit of dried fruit, a bit of cocoa, and that spice on the back of the throat that makes it the perfect base for a Mint Julep. If they changed the juice, it wouldn't be the "official" flavor of the Derby.
Plus, it’s a liter bottle. Most standard bourbon bottles are 750ml. That extra 250ml is basically "bonus bourbon" for your Derby party, which, considering the price hike often found on these limited editions, is a small consolation prize.
The $15,000 Bottle Nobody Talks About
While everyone was fighting over the $55 commemorative liter at Total Wine, Woodford Reserve dropped something truly insane for the 150th anniversary. They released the "Woodford Reserve 150th Derby Baccarat Edition."
Only 150 bottles existed.
They cost $15,000 each.
This wasn't just the standard juice. This was a blend of three different barrels, including one that was "born" in the same year Woodford Reserve became the Derby sponsor. It was housed in a handmade Baccarat crystal decanter and came in a leather carrying case. This is the kind of stuff that ends up in the private collections of people who own the horses, not the people betting $2 on a longshot. It represents the extreme "premiumization" of the bourbon world. It’s polarizing. Some see it as a beautiful tribute to craftsmanship; others see it as a symptom of a bourbon market that has moved beyond the reach of the average person.
Why This Specific Year Matters for Collectors
If you're looking at this from an investment standpoint—which, let's be honest, half the people buying these are—the Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby bottle is a weird beast.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Right Look: What People Get Wrong About Red Carpet Boutique Formal Wear
Usually, the annual Derby bottles don't appreciate that much. They make hundreds of thousands of them. But the "milestone" years—the 125th, the 130th, and now the 150th—tend to hold a bit more weight. They are the anchors of a collection. If you have a shelf of 20 Derby bottles but you’re missing the 150th, your collection feels unfinished. It’s the completionist mindset.
We saw a similar frenzy back in 1974 with the 100th anniversary (though that wasn't Woodford, obviously). People still hunt for those old decanters. The 150th is destined to be that "must-have" item for the next few decades of Kentucky memorabilia.
How to Actually Enjoy Your 150th Bottle
Look, if you bought it to flip it, fine. But bourbon is meant to be drunk. If you have a bottle of the Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby sitting on your shelf, open it. Use it for what it was intended for.
The "official" Mint Julep recipe for the 150th wasn't just sugar and mint. They pushed a more refined version.
- Use 2 oz of the Woodford.
- Half an ounce of 2:1 demerara simple syrup (the dark stuff, it brings out the oak).
- Fresh mint. Not the wilted stuff from the back of the fridge.
- Crushed ice. This is non-negotiable. If you use cubes, you’ve failed.
Rub the mint around the inside of the glass (or tin, if you’re fancy). Drop the mint in. Add the syrup. Muddle lightly. You aren't trying to pulverize the mint into a bitter paste; you just want the oils. Add the bourbon. Fill it halfway with crushed ice and stir until the glass frosts. Pack the rest with ice so it looks like a snow cone. Garnish with a huge bouquet of mint.
There is something visceral about drinking a bourbon that was specifically bottled to celebrate a century and a half of a single race. It’s a connection to the dirt, the speed, and the sheer Kentucky-ness of it all.
🔗 Read more: Finding the Perfect Color Door for Yellow House Styles That Actually Work
Scams and What to Watch For
Because this bottle is so high-profile, the secondary market is a bit of a minefield. You’ll see "empty" 150th bottles for sale on eBay for $30. People buy these to fill them with cheap whiskey and resell them as sealed bottles to unsuspecting fans.
Always check the seal. Woodford Reserve uses a specific clear plastic heat-shrink wrap over the cork. If it looks bubbly, loose, or like it’s been tampered with, walk away. Honestly, with a bottle like this, your best bet is to find a reputable liquor store that still has backstock or use a verified online retailer. Don't buy "Derby Bourbon" from a guy in a Facebook group unless you really trust the community.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you want to get into the world of Woodford Derby bottles, don't start with the most expensive ones.
- Check Local Markets: Believe it or not, some grocery stores in non-bourbon-centric states still have 150th bottles sitting on the bottom shelf because they over-ordered. It’s worth a look if you’re traveling.
- Display it Right: If you’re keeping it as a centerpiece, keep it out of direct sunlight. The UV rays will bleach Caudill’s artwork faster than you’d think, and it can eventually skunk the bourbon inside.
- Document the Provenance: If you bought it at Churchill Downs or a specific event during Derby week, keep the receipt or the hang-tag. For future collectors, that "story" adds value.
- Diversify: Don't just get the Woodford. Old Forester (also owned by Brown-Forman) usually does a "Mint Julep" bottle that is historically significant too. Comparing the two side-by-side gives you a better sense of the Derby’s beverage history.
The Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby bottle is a snapshot of 2024. It’s a mix of high-art, corporate branding, and the liquid history of Kentucky. Whether it’s sitting on your shelf as an investment or being poured into a silver cup full of ice, it’s a piece of the 150-year legacy that won't be repeated for another half-century.
Next Steps for Your Collection:
- Verify your bottle's authenticity by checking the laser-etched code on the glass near the base; it should correspond to 2024 production dates.
- Research the artist Wylie Caudill to understand the floral symbolism used on the "Adorned in Roses" label, which adds significant narrative value to the piece.
- Properly store your bottle upright in a cool, dark place to ensure the natural cork doesn't degrade or taint the bourbon over long-term storage.