Kentucky Derby week is officially underway in Louisville and those who plan to attend the most historic horse race in the world might want to consider a proper pregame because drink prices are outrageous. The cost increase over the last 24 years will make your eyes pop out of your skull.
It might not be a bad idea to upgrade to an all-inclusive package if you plan on getting after it!
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is the 151st renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. Post time is set for 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 3. However, horse racing will take place on the track at Churchill Downs starting on Thursday and practice will take place all week. Crowds vary from day to day but the grandstands and the infield start to fill up as early as Monday morning.
Regardless of the event, regardless of the day and regardless of the time, people will be boozing. Louisville essentially shuts down for a three-day weekend. Visitors arrive from out of town as early as last Friday.
Those who did not purchase a ticket where drinks are included might want to come strapped with cash. Not just to bet, but for drinks. Your options are as follow. None of them are cheap!
- Old Forester Mint Julep — $22
- Woodford Reserve Spire — $22
- Herradura Horseshoe Margarita — $22
- Oaks Lily — $22
- Premium Cocktails — $19
- Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay — $18
- Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir — $18
- White Claw — $14
- Premium Beer — $14
- Domestic Beer — $13
- Red Bull — $6
- Bottled Water — $5
Drinks at sporting events are always overpriced. A $22 Mint Julep, while still too expensive, could be a lot worse depending on the pour. $18 for Kendall-Jackson is highway robbery. I would rather pay up for a $19 premium cocktail than drink a $14 White Claw. That’s crazy. The nearest Woodford distillery is just five miles away, so it’s not like it is an expansive operation to get it in the building!
Back in 2001, you could purchase a beer for $7 and it came in a 14-ounce yard cup. Not anymore!
There is another option but it does not help with cost. Rather, the opposite.
151 Kentucky Derby-specific Mint Julep cups are available for purchase. 51 fine polished pewter cups are available for $1,000 each. 100 sterling silver cups with a heavy 24 karat gold plate are available for $5,000.
Not only do you get the cup, the Mint Julep is made to order by hand by Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall. Other Mint Juleps at the track use a pre-mixed Mint Julep liqueur. If you are wanting to go for it, you can order the $1/5,000 drinks on the website in advance!
Otherwise, if you’re trying to stay on budget, be sure to hit it hard during the pregame. You can’t not get a Mint Julep at the Kentucky Derby and it will hurt less to pay $22 after a few beverages prior to arrival.