This Is How the Family Behind Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Celebrates the Kentucky Derby
This Is How the Family Behind Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Celebrates the Kentucky Derby
For this year's Kentucky Derby, the most coveted ticket wasn't at Churchill Downs. Instead, it was an invitation to the party the three Van Winkle triplets-Carrie, Louise, and Chenault-hosted at their parents' house to commemorate the Run for the Roses. The three sisters' father (and Pappy's grandson), Julian P. Van Winkle III, is president of the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, which makes the elusive and prized Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. Below, a look inside the party.
Sissy and Julian Van Winkle
The "Run for the Roses" bourbon cocktail, the house drink.
Mixologist Kyle Higgins served cocktails in Old Rip Van Winkle tumblers with Kat McCall custom linen four-leaf clover cocktail napkins.
Kentucky Bluegrass band The Wooks performed.
The family gypsy ring tradition is passed down from Pappy himself.
Van Winkle women receive one on their 18th birthday and then a second on their 21st birthday. Pictured here are the Van Winkle triplets, their Aunt Sally, second cousin Cece Boden, and Great-Aunt Chenault Conway.
Louisville chef Michael Crouch served vichyssoise with caviar in Pappy's silver punch cups.
The Van Winkle family's collection of nearly 75 different julep cups dates to the early 1900s.
Laura Johnston dressed for the tulips and pink champagne cake from Caroline's Cakes.
Carmen Johnston Gardens did the floral design, which included trellised walls covered with fresh tulips.
Louise Van Winkle Breen, Carrie Van Winkle Greener, and Chenault Van Winkle James, pictured with their uncle, Ace Hazelip
The Derby footwear included white bucks and colorful socks.
Taking in the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports"
Preston Van Winkle and Nikki Hamilton
Guests smoked Pappy & Company barrel-fermented cigars.
Pappy & Company, the lifestyle brand the triplets founded, recently opened a retail location in downtown Louisville.
The invitation suite featured the story of a lucky four-leaf clover Mrs. Van Winkle found in 1938.
The design was a collaboration between the Van Winkle sisters, Kat McCall Papers, and Carmen Johnston Gardens.
Peter Connor and Chenault’s husband, Ed James
Kat McCall, Louise Van Winkle Breen, Carrie Van Winkle Greener, Carmen Johnston, Chenault James, and Jess Graves
The Van Winkle triplets: Carrie, Louise, and Chenault
Carrie Connor, wearing Ala Von Auersperg
Read more about the fashion collection by Sunny Von Bulow's daughter, Ala Isham, here.
The Van Winkles got together for a family photo.
The Van Winkles toasted to the Run for the Roses in style.