Graeter’s, Churchill Downs team up to create special Kentucky Derby ice cream
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Graeter’s launched Backstretch Bourbon Cherry as the Kentucky Derby’s official ice cream.
- Flavor goes on sale Monday at scoop shops and online; pints hit select Krogers April 15.
- One winner gets free ice cream monthly for a year; enter by May 2 at Graeters.com/Derby.
Graeter’s Ice Cream has teamed up with Churchill Downs to release a limited-edition ice cream flavor less than a month before the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
The flavor, the official ice cream of the Derby, is called Backstretch Bourbon Cherry. Graeter’s said the ice cream features “bourbon-kissed” French Pot ice cream with black cherries and pralines.
“The flavor and name were developed by Graeter’s with their input, and Churchill Downs approved it on the very first bite,” Richard Graeter, fourth-generation president and CEO of Graeter’s Ice Cream, said in a news release. “From that moment, we knew we had a winning flavor.”
Backstretch Bourbon Cherry goes on sale Monday at local scoop shops and online at Graeters.com. Pints of Backstretch Bourbon Cherry will also be available April 15 at select Kroger stores in Ohio, Kentucky and Indianapolis.
There are two scoop shops in Lexington — one on Euclid Avenue, in the Chevy Chase area, and another on Justice Drive, in the Hamburg area.
Graeter’s, which is known for its dense, rich French Pot ice cream, brought back its strawberry chip flavor for a limited time in April and its caramel macchiato flavor for a limited time in March. The ice cream company has more than 50 retail stores and ships more than 300,000 pints of ice cream each year.
Graeter’s also recently remade its brand design with new “bold and evolved” logos.
Graeter’s ice cream truck to appear at Oaks and Kentucky Derby
The Graeter’s ice cream truck will make an appearance at the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby on May 1 and 2. Ticketed guests will be able to sample the official ice cream of the Derby, Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip and other flavors.
The truck will be at the Clubhouse Gate entrance.
“We’ve long believed a collaboration between Graeter’s and Churchill Downs was a natural fit,” Richard Graeter said in the news release “When the Churchill Downs team visited Cincinnati late last year, they experienced our factory tour and tasted ice cream straight from our French Pots – and we introduced them to what is now Backstretch Bourbon Cherry.”
Graeter’s Backstretch Bourbon giveaway
Graeter’s is also hosting an online giveaway that will give one fan free ice cream for a year. Applicants must submit their name, contact information and birthday at Graeters.com/Derby by 11:59 p.m. on May 2, the same day as the Derby.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
One winner will receive a free six-pack of ice cream pints every month from May 2026 through April 2027, while five runners-up will receive a free six-pack of ice cream pints.
