2 min read- Churchill Downs is once again offering $2,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cups for the Kentucky Derby.
- Only 152 hand-crafted cups were made, with proceeds benefiting Closely Crafted.
- This year’s julep recipe includes a more patriotic spin, with maple syrup and spices tied to early American history.
The Mint Julep and the Kentucky Derby go together—some would say—even better than peanut butter and jelly. The iconic drink has been a Derby staple for nearly a century, and each year, more than 125,000 juleps are enjoyed by guests around the racetrack. Traditionally made with bourbon, sugar, fresh mint, and crushed ice, the Mint Julep is getting a very expensive makeover at Churchill Downs this year.
While attendees can order a classic julep all day long, there is also a much more elevated version available—one that adds a serious chunk of change to the day’s festivities, though at least it is for a good cause.
As part of the Kentucky Derby, Woodford Reserve is once again hosting its $2,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep Charity Cup program, with all net proceeds going to Closely Crafted. The cups can be pre-purchased and picked up at the racetrack during the $5,000 Mint Julep Experience at either the Kentucky Oaks or the Kentucky Derby, though some may also be available for purchase on the day of. Still, only a very lucky few will actually get their hands on one.
The high price tag isn’t just about what’s in the cup; it’s also due to the cup itself. In honor of the 152nd Kentucky Derby, 152 hand-crafted julep cups were created by local jeweler Graham Newton of From the Vault. The designs pay tribute to both the Derby and the 250th anniversary of the United States, featuring a sterling silver horse-and-stars applique and 13 lab-created white sapphires.
Of those 152 cups, 76 are made of polished pewter and sell for $2,000, while the other 76 are gold-plated sterling silver and priced at $ 5,000. Both versions come with a sterling silver sipping straw finished with a copper W/R topper.
The $5,000 Mint Julep Experience is not new this year, but the garnishes have a particularly 2026 feel. Each drink is topped with a red rose, along with blue and white flowers to nod to the country’s 250th birthday. The recipe itself also changes a bit from year to year, and this time around, the simple syrup includes maple syrup, along with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg—a mix meant to reflect sweeteners and spices tied to early American history, including some said to be favorites of Thomas Jefferson. How patriotic!
Some people come to the Derby for the fashion, and others come for the horses. But the real winners know it’s all about showing up for the juleps. That’s something I’ll bet on.