The Kentucky Derby is fast approaching, and some prominent bourbon brands and distilleries are beginning to release their annual commemorative bottles ahead of race day on May 3.
One of them is, of course, Woodford Reserve, the main sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, America’s favorite horse race, which has been releasing these special bottles since 1999. The latest edition is now available and features a new label with a painting by Cuban artist Humberto Lahera.
The liquid in Woodford Reserve’s Derby bottles is the same as its flagship bourbon—aged for six to seven years in new charred oak barrels; made from a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley; and bottled at 90.4 proof. But it’s the label design that makes this annual release a collector’s item—each year, it’s a collaboration with a different artist who creates a unique image or interprets one of their previous works.
This year’s artist, Humberto Lahera, was born and raised in Cuba and studied at the El Alba Academy of Fine Arts, eventually becoming a professor there. He moved to the U.S. in 2022 and has been living in Louisville, Kentucky, ever since.
The painting selected for this year’s Derby bottle label is called “Carrera Dinamica,” which translates to “Dynamic Race,” depicting a horse leaping out of an explosion of rose petals. “Being selected as the artist for this year’s Derby bottle is an incredible honor,” Lahera said in a statement. “My work is deeply influenced by my Cuban heritage and my journey as an artist in Kentucky. For this design, I wanted to capture the thrilling movement of the race and the elegance of the horses.”
If you’re interested in trying something new from Woodford that differs from the distillery’s flagship bourbon, you’re in luck, as there have been some notable releases in recent months. These include Chocolate Whisper Redux, the highest ABV whiskey ever released by the distillery, reaching an almost dangerous level of 139.4 proof; the national launch of the fan-favorite Double Double Oaked; and the new Master’s Collection blend of bourbons, ryes, and wheat whiskeys, finished in wooden barrels and then blended with pure wheat whiskey.
They’re all worth looking out for, but if you’re more interested in completing your collection of Derby bottles, you can find the 2025 release available for purchase now at ReserveBar.
Source: RobbReport. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
