2006 Maker's Mark Rupp's Runts Keeneland Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 1Lt Signed

2006 Maker's Mark Keeneland "Rupp's Runts" 40th Anniversary Autographed Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 1Lt is an elite, museum-grade milestone bottle representing a legendary intersection of college basketball royalty and historic Bluegrass distilling. Released in April 2006 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1965-66 University of Kentucky men's basketball team, this rare 1-Liter expression stands out as one of the most sought-after vintage releases in the annual Maker's Mark/Keeneland charitable saga. While standard editions from this run are exceptionally scarce, this ultra-premium autographed variant features the authenticated, trackside hand-signatures of all six prominent figures at the Keeneland Spring Meet signing: iconic "Rupp's Runts" players Louie Dampier, Larry Conley, Thad Jaracz, and Tommy Kron, alongside Maker's Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. and Keeneland President Nick Nicholson.

The design architecture of this historic collector's piece pays a stunning visual tribute to the team famously nicknamed "Rupp's Runts" by the press—a squad that defied the odds with no starting player taller than 6'5", yet fought their way to a number-one national ranking and the NCAA Championship game under legendary coach Adolph Rupp. The custom full-color label beautifully showcases detailed illustrated portraits of Pat Riley, Tommy Kron, Thad Jaracz, Larry Conley, and Louie Dampier assembled under the watchful eye of Coach Rupp. Adorned with a black satin 40th Anniversary neck ribbon and crowned with a pristine, hand-dipped silver wax seal, this 18,000-bottle limited run directed 100% of its original proceeds to the Markey Cancer Center Foundation at the University of Kentucky to fund critical regional cancer research and patient therapies.

Beneath the highly coveted signatures and historic collegiate artwork rests the timeless, small-batch wheated whisky meticulously distilled and nurtured at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky. Maker's Mark completely separates its profile from the sharp, peppery nose-burn common to traditional rye-forward bourbons, substituting soft red winter wheat alongside local yellow corn and malted barley to lock in an extraordinarily soft texture. Crafted using iron-free, calcium-rich water filtered naturally through the distillery's surrounding limestone shelves, the new-make spirit is gently processed through vintage copper stills. The filled oak barrels are carefully matured inside multi-story rackhouses, undergoing an exhaustive manual rotation program that protects the liquid from harsh, over-oaked bitterness while achieving flawless batch consistency.

In the glass, the liquid displays a deep, gleaming amber copper radiance with an impressive viscosity that forms thick, slow-dropping oil tears. The nose is brilliantly aromatic and complex, welcoming the senses with an upfront harmony of warm vanilla cream, rich molasses, dark brown sugar, and honeyed wheat bread, balanced gracefully by underlying hints of fresh orchard fruits and soft toasted oak. On the palate, an elegant, rich, and full-bodied mouthfeel delivers a decadent wave of creamed caramel, sweet maple syrup, and vanilla custard, before seamlessly yielding to complex layers of warming cinnamon bark and gentle baking spices. The finish is remarkably extended, delicate, and smooth, rolling off with lingering trails of sweet wood tannins, light leather, and a sophisticated touch of peppery warmth.

• Size: 1 Litre (1Lt / 1000ml)
• Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
• Age: NAS (Meticulously aged to taste, typically spanning 6 to 7 years)
• Origin: Loretto, Kentucky, United States
• Distillery: Maker's Mark Distillery (Star Hill Farm)
• Style/Class: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky (Autographed Collector's Edition)
• Composition: Traditional Wheated Mash Bill (70% Corn, 16% Soft Red Winter Wheat, 14% Malted Barley)
• Cask/Aging: Aged in premium new charred American white oak barrels; fire-charred staves with a completely manual warehouse barrel rotation program
• Series/Edition: Maker's Mark / Keeneland Association Charitable Series — 2006 "Rupp's Runts" 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (Officially Autographed by Louie Dampier, Larry Conley, Thad Jaracz, Tommy Kron, Bill Samuels Jr., and Nick Nicholson; Hand-Numbered out of 18,000)
• Tasting Notes: Warm vanilla cream, dark brown sugar, caramel custard, sweet corn, fresh orchard fruit, maple syrup, cinnamon bark, light leather finish