Woodford Reserve’s $1,000 mint julep an homage to pecan pie

If you’re looking for the ultimate Kentucky Derby souvenir, the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup is available online at Woodfordreservemintjulep.com, if any are left. This year’s version, the 11th, benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. There were 90 $1,000 “Crafter’s” silver cup and 15 $2,500 “Master’s” gold cups, designed by Houston-based men’s shirt designer Hamilton Shirts and handcrafted at Louisville-based jeweler From the Vault.

On Derby Day, master distiller Chris Morris will make you a special mint julep in your own cup. This year’s mint julep, created by New York mixologist Julie Renee Williams, pays tribute to the traditional southern dessert of pecan pie, with toasted pecan orgeat syrup and caramelized pecan crumbles for garnish, along with edible copper flakes.

“Woodford Reserve prides itself on producing bourbon with a flavor that blends our historic past with our current innovative style, and this year’s special mint julep recipe does just that,” Morris said in a release.

Woodford Reserve has donated more than $425,000 to equine and humanitarian-related causes through this program. The individually numbered cups are on sale online until May 6.Any unsold cups will be for sale at the Woodford Reserve tent at Churchill Downs on Derby day, May 7.

▪  Next week, in addition to the Kentucky Oaks and Derby, Cinco de Mayo will sneak into the event calendar. Brasabana, 841 Lane Allen Drive, will offer specials including pablano taquitos and elotes hervidos (street-style corn on the cob) for appetizers; fajitas, tostadas, carnitas and pollo al mole for main dishes; and tequila lime cake and agave coconut tart for desserts. Drink specials include margatinis and Bacardi melon and cilantro mojitos. There will be live music 7 to 10 p.m. Call 859-303-5573 for reservations.

▪  For Cinco de Mayo, Country Boy Brewing, 436 Chair Avenue, will be releasing Mexican Chocolate Stout, which has been aged in rum barrels, at 5 p.m. Available on draft and in 750 ml. bottles. The event will also feature three experimental versions of some of their most popular beers: Blue Agave Lime Cougar Bait, Pineapple Jalapeno Classic Hard Cider and Mango Habanero Nacho Bait. You can try all four in a flight. The Gastro Gnomes Food Truck will serve a Mexican-themed menu from 5:30 to 10 p.m., or until they sell out.

▪  Mark your calendars: Country Boy’s third annual Beer Cheese Contest will be May 15. Enter your beer cheese by May 11 or, for a $5 donation to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, you can taste more than 40 beer cheeses and help pick the winner. Contact taproom manager Zac Wright at zac@countryboybrewing.com for the entry form.

▪  Crank & Boom, which is opening a second location at The Summit at Fritz Farm in the Deauville Food Hall with other local food purveyors including Athenian Grill, has released more details about what will be served. Offerings will include craft ice cream, signature sundaes, floats, espresso bar and hot chocolate bar. The project is expected to open in March 2017. “We are extremely excited to be a part of this innovative development. It’s the perfect next step for Crank & Boom,” said Toa Green, owner of Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream. “The collaborative nature between the restaurateurs in the food hall, along with the folks at Bayer Properties, is going to create something really special for Lexington, providing a very unique experience for diners and food lovers.”

▪  Speaking of Crank & Boom, on May 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the ice cream maker will be joined by North Lime Coffee & Donuts for a mash-up party at 1210 Manchester Street.

▪  The Bluegrass Farmers Market at Azur, 3070 Lakecrest Crest, and Liquor Barn, 1837 Plaudit Place, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday will have spring greens, plants, eggs, kobe beef, pork, breads and jams and jellies.

▪  Lexington Farmers Market, 241 Main Street from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 348 Southland Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, will have seasonal produce including spinach, spring greens, baby kale, pea shoots, fresh herbs, onions, asparagus, plants, baby green garlic, honey, breads, jam and jellies, beef, chicken, pork and lamb and mushrooms, oriental lilies, anemones, ranunculus, tulips and more.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Woodford Reserve’s $1,000 mint julep an homage to pecan pie."