Maker’s Mark Bottle Commemorates Keeneland 75th Anniversary

Maker’s Mark Distillery officials have announced their plans for the 2011 Maker’s Mark Mile commemorative bottle to feature a Lexington time honored tradition — Keeneland Race Course in commemoration of it’s 75th anniversary this year.
The specialty bottle will go on sale April 8th and all proceeds will go to a newly founded endowment for the arts fund created by UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. and Mrs. Patsy Todd. The Lee T. and Patsy Todd Jr. Development Fund will continue to make it possible for the UK Symphony Orchestra and students from the UK School of Music to incorporate music into public schools and communities throughout the state.
“Every year, we strive to make this commemorative bottle and its charitable proceeds about the people and entities that have a positive impact on Kentucky,” said Maker’s Mark President and CEO Bill Samuels Jr. “Lee and Patsy Todd, as well as Keeneland, have made significant contributions to Kentucky and have been such wonderful partners to Maker’s Mark through the years, that it seemed only fitting to honor them in this way.”
Samuels expects about $200,000 from the sale of more than 18,000 bottles statewide, creating funding for this special program to exceed of $1.2 million.
“We are so honored that Maker’s Mark is paying tribute to our anniversary in this way,” said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson. “This sponsorship and all of the money it has raised through the years was the brainchild of Bill Samuels and he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his ability to take a corporate partnership like ours to new heights. He is an innovator and, himself, a Kentucky icon.”
The design of the 2011 collectors edition bottle features Keeneland’s specially designed anniversary logo and notes the 15th anniversary of the distillery’s sponsorship of the Maker’s Mark Mile. Keeneland Race Course opened it’s doors on Oct. 15, 1936.
Samuels, Todd, and Nicholson will hold a special bottle signing at 6 a.m. Friday, April 15, trackside at Keeneland.
QUOTES COURTESY OF: UKNOW (UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY NEWS) http://uknow.uky.edu/