Keeneland Race Course and Maker's Mark have partnered for the third bottle in the “Greats of the Gate” 10-year commemorative bottle series celebrating Thoroughbred racing's most iconic horses. Proceeds from each year's limited-edition bottle benefit nonprofits that support Kentucky's horse racing industry and vibrant culture of hospitality and the arts. The 2026 beneficiaries include Kentucky Classic Arts, Kentucky Harvest, Kentucky Arts Center of the Bluegrass and Blue Grass Farms Charities.
The limited-edition bottles will arrive on shelves April 16. Available exclusively at select Kentucky retailers that sell Maker's Mark, the 2026 “Greats of the Gate” bottle honors the Hall-of- Fame racehorse Northern Dancer, the first Canadian-bred horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
“The 'Greats of the Gate' series is more than a tribute to legendary Thoroughbreds–it's a meaningful way for Maker's Mark to invest in the Kentucky culture that has sustained our craft for generations,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker's Mark. “Through our partnership with Keeneland, we're able to turn our shared heritage and commitment to purpose into tangible support for the organizations that make our community so vibrant.”
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