The Kentucky Derby Festival is upon us!

You may remember a few weeks ago when I virtually helped select the Four Roses single barrel that will be sold at Louisville area Kroger stores in honor of the Great Steamboat Race. In years past, these special picks have been served on the boats during the race.

According to the Four Roses press release, “The Four Roses Great Steamboat Race Commemorative Single Barrel Bourbon will be available beginning Thursday, April 22 at select Louisville-area Kroger Wine & Spirits locations. A bottle signing with Master Distiller Brent Elliott is scheduled at the Middletown Kroger location at 12501 Shelbyville Road, beginning at 5 p.m. on April 22. The suggested retail price is $75.99 and limited quantities will be available.”

This may not be the Derby Festival we want, but it’s the Derby Festival we are getting and I’m glad we’ve found a way to modify our traditions to keep everyone safe. Having a Zoom barrel pick is actually a lot of fun – it’s like a meeting but with bourbon!

The barrel we picked, which we all agreed was superb, is a 10-year-old OESK that was bottled at 117.1 proof, making it one of the oldest and highest-proof Four Roses single barrels I have ever participated in selecting. It’s definitely a special bottle and I highly recommend getting one if you can find it.

Happy Derby!

Photos Courtesy of Four Roses and Maggie Kimberl