Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 147 Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey 1 Liter

Every year since 1999, Woodford Reserve — the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby — releases a limited edition commemorative bottle to mark the running of the world's most famous horse race. The Kentucky Derby 147 edition celebrates the 147th running of the Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky in 2021. The bottle features original watercolor artwork by Richard Sullivan, a Louisville artist and former MLB player for the Atlanta Braves, depicting thoroughbreds thundering down the stretch in full race-day glory. It is a bottle as much designed for display as for drinking — and serious collectors pursue every annual edition.

Inside the collector's bottle is Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, the flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon that has made the brand one of the most respected names in American whiskey. Crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky — one of the oldest and most storied distilleries in the state — it is built on a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in new charred American white oak barrels. Bottled at 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV), it delivers the full, rich complexity Woodford Reserve is known for — more than 200 individual flavor notes across grain, sweet aromatics, fruit, floral, spice, and wood. The 1-liter format makes this Derby 147 edition a particularly generous and impressive collector's bottle.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Rich, deep amber with warm copper tones — classic Kentucky bourbon in the glass

Nose: Inviting and layered — caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit open first, followed by toasted oak, a hint of baking spice, and soft floral aromatics. Complex and well-integrated, showing the depth that comes from triple pot still distillation.

Palate: Full-bodied and smooth with over 200 flavor notes to discover. Rich caramel, vanilla cream, and dried fruit lead, supported by toasted oak, warming spice, a touch of dark chocolate, and subtle citrus. The higher rye content (18%) gives it a pleasant spice backbone without ever losing its sweetness.

Finish: Long, smooth, and satisfying — lingering warmth with vanilla, toasted grain, and a gentle oak dryness. Exactly what you'd expect from one of Kentucky's finest distilleries.

FAQ

What makes the Kentucky Derby edition bottles collectible?
Woodford Reserve has been the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby since 1999 and releases a new limited edition bottle each year featuring original commissioned artwork. Each year's edition is produced only once and retired after the Derby season, making older editions — like Derby 147 — increasingly difficult to find. Collectors pursue the full annual series, and each bottle captures a specific moment in Derby history.

Who painted the artwork on the Derby 147 bottle?
The artwork was created by Richard Sullivan, a Louisville-based artist and former professional baseball player who played for the Atlanta Braves. His watercolor painting of thoroughbreds racing down the stretch captures the energy and tradition of Churchill Downs and wraps the full label of this 1-liter bottle.

Is this the same bourbon as regular Woodford Reserve?
Yes — the liquid inside is Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, the flagship expression, bottled at 90.4 proof. What makes the Derby editions special is the commemorative collector's bottle and artwork, which changes every year. For bourbon lovers and Derby fans alike, it's the combination of great whiskey and genuine collectible packaging that makes these bottles so desirable.

Where can I buy Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 147 online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast, insured shipping nationwide.