The Kentucky Derby is selling a $1,000 cocktail to support Jennifer Lawrence's charity
- The Kentucky Derby takes place on May 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Mint julep cocktails at the Kentucky Derby will be served with a $1,000 price tag.
- The net proceeds of this expensive cocktail will go to the Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund.
The mint julep at the 2018 Kentucky Derby, held on May 5, is something else.
In tune with the extravagance and pomp that makes the Kentucky Derby the Kentucky Derby, the event's signature cocktail comes with a four-figure price tag: $1,000.
While more affordable mint juleps will be available on Derby day, the net proceeds from the splurge-worthy cocktail go to a good cause - the Jennifer Lawrence Art Fund, which supports a variety of nonprofits that promote arts education. The actress is a Kentucky native.
A total of 100 drinks were sold online already and will be picked up in person at Churchill Downs. Only five drinks are sold at the track on Derby day.
Served by Kentucky bourbon distillery Woodford Reserve, the drink includes ingredients from Woodford County, such as local farm-sourced mint and sorghum for the simple syrup. The ice comes from iron-free spring water that prevents the addition of off-putting flavors to the cocktail as it melts, and is filled with limestone, a perfect match for the bourbon's fermentation process. And this year, the cocktail will feature chocolate mint.
For a final touch, it's garnished with a sprig of mint, three spray roses, and a single rose petal from the Kentucky Derby's Garland of Roses.
Something so rich in flavor needs to be served in an equally decadent cup - luckily, buyers have the choice of both silver and gold cups.
Featuring a thoroughbred horse, jockey, rose, and Woodford reserve bottle in 18-karat plated yellow gold as well as etchings of the spires of Churchill Downs and a stream of Kentucky limestone water, the sterling silver "Bluegrass" cup went on sale for $1,000 on April 11. Within 20 minutes, $48,000 worth of drinks sold and within a week, online orders were completely sold out, reports Town & Country.
Derby-goers were equally as excited by the $2,500 "Commonwealth" 24-karat gold-plated cups with a silver sipping straw, which has sold out.
To get the most bang for your buck, one should take at least 22 sips of the mint julep before hitting the bottom of the glass - and this should be done via straw to help mix the sugar and mint, keeping the drink fresh.
As Woodford Reserve's master distiller, Chris Morris, explains to Fortune, that logic means one sip is worth $45. At that rate, the cocktail should last an hour, the standard time between races at Churchill Downs.