Sales are expected to be brisk Friday for the latest commemorative Makers Mark bourbon bottle, this one features the likeness of the “Baron of the Bluegrass,” Kentucky basketball coaching legend Adolph Rupp.
For some 18 years the distiller has teamed with Keeneland to sell the bottles and raise funds for various central Kentucky charities, as well as programs at the University of Kentucky. For the next five years the proceeds will go toward a proposed four million dollar expansion of its student athlete tutorial center, better known as CATS.
“Serving our student-athletes, as well as positioning them for success after they leave UK, remains our primary goal as a department,” athletics director Mitch Barnhart said. “With this unique partnership, we are taking an important step in securing the resources needed to continue to serve them through CATS.”
Those who purchase the collectible will have the opportunity to come to Keeneland on April tenth and have it autographed by UK All Americans, Cliff Hagen, Dan Issel, Frank Ramsey, and Adrian “Odie” Smith.
Tickets for that event in the Keene barn at Keeneland will actually be distributed the day before, on Thursday evening April 9th beginning at 7.
