Here were the best food and drink experiences at the 2025 Kentucky Derby
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2025 Kentucky Derby coverage
Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com at the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
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Each year, on the first weekend of May, more than 150,000 patrons descend upon Churchill Downs for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Between the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, hopeful wagerers enjoy far more than “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” The distinct culture of Derby weekend isn’t limited to designer hats, pastel suits or dresses, or even cigar-laden celebrations.
Interesting cuisine and drink options — many of which are free to those who purchased non-infield tickets — are everywhere for the eye to see — one simply has to explore to find the best of the best.
Once again, the Herald-Leader is reporting live from the Run for the Roses. This year, we’re here to give readers an inside look at all things at Churchill Downs. Whether you’re making your way to Louisville or watching from the comfort of your viewing party at home, here’s a running list of the best food, drink and special promotions available at the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
6:20 p.m. update: Guests in search of eats should now make their way to the paddock for food, as several stands are running low or selling out of multiple items.
Mint julep
Death, taxes and Kentucky bourbon — all things you can always count on.
It made perfect sense, then, to start this food and drink tour with the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby.
Per NBC, mint juleps have long been linked with horse racing, a connection dating back “since at least the early 1800s.”
“By the 1920s and the onset of prohibition,” NBC reports, “the mint julep was woven into the fabric of the Derby, with attendees complaining that they wouldn’t get to sip their favorite drink during the race. By 1939 (a few years after the end of prohibition), the connection between the mint julep and the Kentucky Derby had become official.”
Though this first sip of the day is simply a pre-mixed operation, you can find the recipe for the Woodford Reserve Classic Mint Julep here.
If you’re looking for a special bourbon-related souvenir, you could even purchase a limited-edition julep cup ahead of time to honor your visit. Priced at either $1,000 or $5,000, this special experience gives those who ordered the handcrafted cup a handmade mint julep at pickup. The experience provides a handmade alternative to the pre-mixed juleps.
There were only 151 cups available for purchase; 51 fine polished pewter sold for $1,000 apiece, and 100 sterling silver with heavy 24 karat gold plating sold for $5,000 a pop.
Coined a Derby Day tradition by Churchill Downs, the mint juleps you’ll find at the One and Five Thousand Dollar Mint Julep Cup Experience are made with 2 ounces of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, one barspoon of simple syrup, one sprig of chocolate mint, one sprig of peppermint and one sprig of spearmint.
Paddock eats
Paddock Grill satellite stands are sprinkled throughout Churchill Downs, providing typical grill fare that’s included with most ticket levels.
We tried the classic bratwurst, the fried chicken sandwich, the chicken tenders, the black bean burger and the cheeseburger. Also available to order are classic items like soft pretzel bites, hot dogs, and “regular” nachos.
Remember to add your preferred condiments, which you can find near the registers.
Recommendation: It’s hard to go wrong with a basket of chicken tenders, which is really just one massive chicken tender atop a bed of fries. Grab yourself a honey mustard packet and you’ll be good to go!
At select Paddock Grill locations, including the lot next to the gift shop, additional items such as a smash burger ($17), an Impossible smash burger ($17) and dill pickle tater tots ($9) are available for purchase.
Fun Fact: The same Derby eats included with certain ticket tiers are also available for purchase. The chicken tender basket, which comes with fries, is listed for $18. The classic bratwurst sells for $15.
Paddock Grill stands also offer soda and bottled water, with select locations offering premium and domestic canned beers and White Claw seltzers.
Cocktail tents
If you’re looking for a bit of variety when it comes to your Derby libations, look no further than the cocktail tents sponsored by brands like Tequila Herradura, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, each of which is located by the Starting Gate Pavilion (Sections 323-328).
In the mood for a margarita? According to the folks at the Tequila Herradura tent, so is everybody else. Upon their recommendation, we gave it a go — bright and refreshing, and best enjoyed under cover away from the continued rain showers.
As is the case at the Old Forester and Woodford Reserve tents, Tequila Herradura will mix your drink right in front of you. Here are the drinks available at each of these stops, with our recommendations listed in bold:
Tequila Herradura
- Herradura reposado margarita
- Herradura reposado tequila and tonic
- Herradura crown mule, made with Herradura reposado and tropical ginger beer
Old Forester
- Old Forester mint julep
- Old Forester hibiscus mule
Woodford Reserve
- Woodford Reserve Spire, made with Woodford Reserve, lemonade and cranberry juice
- Woodford Reserve and ginger ale
- Assorted cocktails made with Woodford Reserve
Bottled water is also available.
Wine, cigars and more
A personal highlight each year at the Run for the Roses? Frozen cheesecake on a stick. The unfortunate part? It gets harder and harder to secure one.
In 2023, the Derby stand ran out before the start of the titular race. By some miracle, we were able to get our hands on one in 2024. This year, with a loaded line, we waited eight-and-a-half minutes to get to the front of the line. A classic that’s worth the wait!
The frozen cheesecake on a stick is drizzled with milk chocolate, which is a lovely touch. Also available at the stand are the strawberry and banana kabob, the strawberry and brownie kabob, cinnamon roasted almonds and the apple blossom, which is a granny smith apple sliced and drizzled in warm caramel, white chocolate and nuts.
La Crema, under the Jackson Family Wines umbrella, is “the Preferred Wine of the Kentucky Derby,” and the winemakers are teaming up in a shared partnership with Kendall-Jackson Wine, also under the umbrella, to hand out full pours at this year’s event.
“Kendall-Jackson is the tradition,” Erin Faraci, associate brand manager at Jackson Family Wines, told the Herald-Leader. “And the racing, and the horses and the jockeys and the mud. That’s what Kendall-Jackson is because Kendall-Jackson also celebrates that rich history in what they do. La Crema is all about celebrating. The wine is here to elevate our party.”
You can try the chardonnay, the pinot grigio, the pinot noir or the rose. We went for the pinot noir and the chardonnay.
Not feeling the grill, or the desserts? Why not grab an empanada from Nuchas Handheld Foods.
Nuchas, which took its product to the popular entrepreneurial television program Shark Tank in 2019, is bringing its “reimagined” empanadas recipes to Louisville for Derby Day. We tried each of the available flavors, and enjoyed them all. Whether you pick Argentine beef, chipotle chicken or the vegan pinto bean, you can’t go wrong.
And, of course, no Kentucky Derby experience would be complete without a celebratory cigar! Available in carts and from walking concessions workers around Churchill Downs, and at a large stand near the paddock, Liquor Barn is bringing premium cigars to the Run for the Roses.
In honor of the 151st Derby, Liquor Barn has created an exclusive commemorative cigar called Romeo Y Julieta. You can snag a collector’s box single for $30, a single toro for $25 and a lighter for $30.
Herald-Leader senior audience growth producer of Newsletters Andrew Henderson and reporters Janet Patton and Monica Kast contributed to this article.
This story was originally published May 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM.
