The Story
The 125th running of the Kentucky Derby — 1999. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Limited Edition #125, one liter, the oldest and rarest annual Derby edition in the Wooden Cork collection — from the year Charismatic nearly won the Triple Crown before breaking down in the Belmont Stakes.
Charismatic won the 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, putting him one race from the Triple Crown before fracturing two bones in his left foreleg in the final strides of the Belmont Stakes and finishing third. Jockey Chris Antley leapt off the horse and held his leg to prevent further injury in one of racing's most emotional moments. Charismatic recovered and was retired.
The 1999 Derby Edition #125 predates the Wooden Cork deep-vintage collection by seven years (the next oldest individual edition is #132 from 2006) — making it categorically distinct from the rest of the Derby vertical as the sole representative of the program's first five years before #132. Now 25 years from its original release.
Specs
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve, Versailles, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Derby: 125th running, 1999
- Size: 1 liter
Explore the full bourbon collection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is #125 the rarest Derby edition in the collection? At 25 years from its original release and seven years older than the next oldest individual edition (#132 from 2006), the 1999 #125 is categorically the rarest Derby bottle in the Wooden Cork vertical. It is the sole representative of the program's founding era (1999–2005) in the current collection.
- What makes the 1999 Derby historically memorable? Charismatic won the Derby and Preakness before fracturing two bones in the Belmont Stakes. Jockey Chris Antley's immediate dismount to hold the horse's leg prevented further injury in one of racing's most emotionally resonant moments. Charismatic recovered and was retired to breeding.
- Is the 1999 Derby Edition #125 still available? Yes — one bottle, 25 years from its original release.
Description
The 125th running of the Kentucky Derby — 1999. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Limited Edition #125, one liter, the oldest and rarest annual Derby edition in the Wooden Cork collection — from the year Charismatic nearly won the Triple Crown before breaking down in the Belmont Stakes.
Charismatic won the 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, putting him one race from the Triple Crown before fracturing two bones in his left foreleg in the final strides of the Belmont Stakes and finishing third. Jockey Chris Antley leapt off the horse and held his leg to prevent further injury in one of racing's most emotional moments. Charismatic recovered and was retired.
The 1999 Derby Edition #125 predates the Wooden Cork deep-vintage collection by seven years (the next oldest individual edition is #132 from 2006) — making it categorically distinct from the rest of the Derby vertical as the sole representative of the program's first five years before #132. Now 25 years from its original release.
Specs
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve, Versailles, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Derby: 125th running, 1999
- Size: 1 liter
Explore the full bourbon collection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is #125 the rarest Derby edition in the collection? At 25 years from its original release and seven years older than the next oldest individual edition (#132 from 2006), the 1999 #125 is categorically the rarest Derby bottle in the Wooden Cork vertical. It is the sole representative of the program's founding era (1999–2005) in the current collection.
- What makes the 1999 Derby historically memorable? Charismatic won the Derby and Preakness before fracturing two bones in the Belmont Stakes. Jockey Chris Antley's immediate dismount to hold the horse's leg prevented further injury in one of racing's most emotionally resonant moments. Charismatic recovered and was retired to breeding.
- Is the 1999 Derby Edition #125 still available? Yes — one bottle, 25 years from its original release.
