Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 152 Edition 2026 Release

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 152 Edition — the 2026 annual commemorative bottle released by Woodford Reserve as Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, featuring original race-day artwork on the label and the standard Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon inside.

Woodford Reserve has served as the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby since 1999 and has released a limited-edition commemorative bottle every year since. Each annual bottle carries an original commissioned artwork on the label — a different design each year capturing the imagery and energy of the race — while the whiskey inside remains the consistent Distiller's Select expression. The 152nd edition continues that series for the 2026 Run for the Roses.

The bourbon is the same 72/18/10 corn, rye, and malted barley mash bill, triple copper pot still distillation, and 90.4 proof that defines the standard Woodford Reserve — a rounded, fruit-forward Kentucky Straight Bourbon in a collectible Derby presentation.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Dried fruit, vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice — the classic Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select profile
• Palate: Rich caramel, baking spice, chocolate, and oak with rounded pot still fruit complexity; approachable at 90.4 proof
• Finish: Medium-long with warm spice and caramel tapering cleanly

Specs

• Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Distiller's Select)
• Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
• ABV: 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
• Race: 152nd Kentucky Derby, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the whiskey different from standard Woodford Reserve? No — the Derby Edition contains the same Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon at 90.4 proof. The commemorative element is the annual collectible label artwork, not a different liquid.
• How long has Woodford been the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby? Since 1999. Woodford Reserve has been Presenting Sponsor for over 25 years and releases a new commemorative bottle for each running of the race.
• Is this a collectible? Yes — the annual Derby bottles are among the most widely collected bourbon release series in Kentucky, each tied to a specific year's race.