As the Derby approaches, it’s time to revisit that most classic of Kentucky cocktails – the Mint Julep – and that most American of spirits – Bourbon. In particular, it’s a big year for Wild Turkey and their good friend Rosie Napravnik, one of the top female jockeys in the country.
This 2014 Derby is particularly exciting because Rosie Napravnik will be riding in her second Derby.
In Rosie’s honor, Wild Turkey named a cocktail after her – the I Ride with Rosie Julep. The recipe for this refreshing Bourbon-forward drink calls for our handcrafted Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon, lots of fresh mint and some of our delicious American Honey liqueur to add some sweetness with a little kick (just like Rosie!). You can watch Rosie talking about her life as a jockey here: www.nevertamed.com.
It’s also a very special year for Wild Turkey Master Distiller, Jimmy Russell. The legendary “Buddha of Bourbon” has been proudly making Wild Turkey Bourbon for the past 60 years. That’s right – he had already been making Wild Turkey for 19 years when Secretariat won the Derby in 1973!
As the longest-tenured active master distiller in North America, Wild Turkey has decreed 2014 “The Year of Jimmy Russell.” As you can often find Jimmy waxing poetic about whiskey over a few fingers of Wild Turkey 101, see the Jimmy Julep below.
