Maker’s Mark® Introduces American Pharoah Commemorative Bottle
In 2015, American Pharoah captivated the hearts of fans worldwide by becoming the first-ever winner of horse racing’s fabled Grand Slam. By sweeping the Kentucky Derby®, the Preakness Stakes®, the Belmont Stakes® and the Breeders’ Cup® Classic, American Pharoah established himself as one of the greatest racehorses in history. Now, in anticipation of the 2016 racing season, Maker’s Mark® is celebrating this extraordinary achievement by introducing a limited-edition American Pharoah commemorative bottle. To further mark the occasion, Maker’s Mark and the Zayat family will also make a donation benefitting the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Endorsed and supported by American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat, the bottle features the now-legendary blue and yellow silks of Zayat Stables. “American Pharoah proved to an entire generation of racing fans that the impossible can be achieved,” said Zayat. “It was a joy for us to race him each and every time he took the track, and we thank Maker’s Mark for their fitting tribute to this once-in-a-lifetime racehorse.”
The limited-edition Maker’s Mark American Pharoah bottle will be available at select locations nationwide beginning on May 1st, 2016. Suggested retail price is $74.99. Please check your local retailer for availability.
In added celebration of American Pharoah’s Grand Slam win, Maker’s Mark and the Zayats will also make a donation to the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, KY. The Kentucky Derby Museum is a non-profit organization with an impassioned commitment to engage, educate and excite everyone on the extraordinary experience that is the Kentucky Derby®.
“Maker’s Mark has always had a strong connection with horse racing,” said Rob Samuels, Chief Operating Officer of Maker’s Mark Distillery. “Without the support of the thoroughbred industry in the early days of our brand, Maker’s Mark simply wouldn’t exist. We’re honored to help grow the sport we love while also commemorating one of the most remarkable achievements in sports history.”
About Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
In 1954, at a small Victorian distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream to create a pioneering handmade bourbon that, for the first time, would appeal both to bourbon and to non-bourbon drinkers alike, that tasted good and exemplified good taste, and wouldn’t “blow your ears off,” which was the measure by which bourbons were judged at the time. He decided to make his whisky in small-batches of 19 barrels, developed a proprietary barrel char to enhance the softness and sweetness of his whisky, and then rotated each barrel by hand to ensure exposure to consistent temperatures throughout the warehouse, and, ultimately, he aged each barrel to taste. Bill Samuels, Sr., unknowingly and unintentionally, fired the shot that started the Bourbon Revolution, and transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handcrafted spirit, giving rise to the modern era of bourbon. Today, Maker’s Mark continues to make its bourbon the same way Bill Samuels, Sr., did 60 years ago, in small batches by craftsmen who hand-dip each bottle. In 2010, in tribute to his father’s spirit of innovation, Bill Samuels, Jr. unveiled Maker’s 46®, a totally new bourbon that reflects the distinct character of Maker’s Mark® but has a bigger, bolder and complex taste without any hint of bitterness. Maker’s Mark® Bourbon (45% alc./vol.) and Maker’s 46® (47% alc./vol.) are distilled, aged and bottled by the Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., in Loretto, Kentucky. In 1980, the distillery was designated a National Historic Landmark, becoming the first distillery in America to be so recognized, and has also been decreed as the “world’s oldest operating bourbon whisky distillery” by Guinness World Records®. The Maker’s Mark Distillery is one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. For more information, please visit the Maker’s Mark® website (www.makersmark.com)
