There’s always a collective sigh of relief come the Monday after the first Saturday in May. The airports go back to their normal buzz, diets begin again (goodbye, Hot Browns), and we Louisville locals take a deep breath of the lilies and roses that have adorned our homes through the weekend, hoping beyond hope that they’ll continue to bloom.
While I always hate to say goodbye to the festivities that come with such a special time of year, it is nice to get back to normal, and to reflect on the few weeks that led us up to the greatest 2 minutes in sports.
This year, we found that our beloved Stitzel-Weller Affair wasn’t happening, replaced instead by a week-long celebration of Bourbon across Kentucky; Garden & Gun Distilled. Not able to join Bourbon and Kentucky enthusiasts from across the country for the entire week, my friend Kathryn and I joined for a dinner titled Rise from the Ruins at the beautiful Castle and Key Distillery one Thursday night. A brief chat with famed landscape designer Jon Carloftis was the precursor to an incredible multi-course dinner on the ruins of one of the oldest rick houses. The food from The Apiary in Lexington was, of course, spectacular, but the communal tables made for fabulous dinner conversation.
When Derby week arrived the following week, Bryan and I joined a few friends and a few of theirs to take over a few boxes at Churchill Downs for a day full of racing. It was blazing hot, but the weather was beautiful, and the company was wonderful. Once we’d bet all of our money, a few of us headed to Darling’s Bar in the Highlands, grabbing pizza from The Post next door for a casual, late-night dinner.
Oaks Day stayed low key (I had a closing, and chose to putter around in the garden), but Derby Day started with a bang at 9am. We picked up our usual crew and drove the backroads to peaceful Loretto, Kentucky for a rather unusual tour at Maker’s Mark. Now, I’ll be honest, Maker’s has never been at the top of my Bourbon list, but after this visit, I’m a convert! We chose to participate in a tour called “Wax Drips and Honey Sips,” and were pleased to learn we were one of the first to try this new experience! An hours-long tour of the farm, chats on Star Hill Farm’s (where Maker’s is made) conservation efforts, and a tasting of local honey and some special bottles from the distillery’s collection were lead by the Nature Experience Steward (how cool of a title is that?!) and an Environmental Coordinator who contracts himself at the distillery to develop the best habitats for pollinators on the property. It was an incredible visit, culminating with lunch on the grounds.
We were home that afternoon in time to watch several of the races and see the once-in-a-lifetime three-horse photo finish before heading to dinner at the Pine Room, where Jeremy made sure to keep fried chicken and cocktails in front of us all night.
It’s taken a week to come down, pack the hats away, and feel like things are normal again, but- true to form- I’m already looking forward to next year!
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my won **
** terrible iPhone photos by me, Derby finish photo by NBC Sports **
** amazing headgear by Kathleen & Keegan Millinery **
