Maker's Mark Unforgettables Bottle

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

http://news.uky.edu/news/display_article.php?artid=2138&mode=print

During a news conference today, Richie Farmer announced that "The Unforgettables" will be featured on this year's edition of the commemorative bottle, which will go on sale statewide during Keeneland's opening day, April 6. A bottle signing will take place a week later on April 13 to commemorate the 11th running of the Maker's Mark Mile and will include Unforgettables team members Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, John Pelphrey and Sean Woods, along with Maker's Mark President Bill Samuels and Keeneland President Nick Nicholson.



I'm definitely going to have to get my hands on one of these !!



http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/95/e3/0e7e_1.JPG

Interesting you can prebuy these on Ebay already. :rolleyes:

[boomdaddy]

I may be one of the few people who thinks this way, but Ibelieve those guys have been given way to much credit. They didn't have the typical "Kentucky" talent and they didn't get to the final four, because of Laetner. I really don't like the banner deal with them hanging in Rupp. None of them are all americans or hold any major records. The way the banners are tossed around in Rupp, they mean less and less.

[matt57]

boomdaddy wrote: I may be one of the few people who thinks this way, but Ibelieve those guys have been given way to much credit. They didn't have the typical "Kentucky" talent and they didn't get to the final four, because of Laetner. I really don't like the banner deal with them hanging in Rupp. None of them are all americans or hold any major records. The way the banners are tossed around in Rupp, they mean less and less.
wow!!!! these kids put us back on the national scene. they played thier hearts out when we couldn't play in the postseason. they are everything that is great about UK basketball. they didn't come here to use UK for the NBA. they came here to restore a program that they grew up loving. we owe a ton to them. someone has to lay the groundwork/foundation for a dynasty. they were those guys.....

[GeorgiaBlue]

Yep - BoomDaddy - I'd be surprised if you got much backing on that.

The Unforgettables did not make a Final Four - they weren't All-Americans. But they paved the way for the 1996-98 teams that were so great. I was at UK when we suffered through the losing season. That group of players did not have the best talent in the world - but together they went so much further than any one could have imagined. The players - along with Rick Pitino - played as a team - and brought UK back from the dead - from probation. They are a special group and deserved the honor that was bestowed upon them. Each could have bolted - but they wore UK Blue and won the hearts of fans across the US.

Get me a bottle Kenny!

[oruacat2]

I got your back, GB, though the more publicity this gets, the harder it's gonna be to snag the bottles. I was hoping we could all just keep it on the downlow....lol

About that 1992 team...I'm surprised that anyone purporting to be a UK fan would feel that way about those kids. I can see someone outside the UK community feeling like they get too much publicity, because someone not familiar with the entire situation in-context wouldn't know all the facts. The probation, the defections, the controversy...Pelphrey, Farmer, Feldhaus...those were the kids who stuck it out while others bolted...(LeRon Ellis, Chris Mills), or received the hoops death penalty (Eric Manuel). Because they didn't have typical UK talent, the KY kids probably couldn't have went elsewhere even had they wanted to.

Someone outside of the UK community wouldn't know that despite what we all know now, Rick Pitino was NOT universally embraced initially. They don't remember the accusations of "snake oil salesman" and "Pitiner Arener" and "is Richie gonna play?" peppering the radio talkshow airwaves. They don't know how Rock Oliver damn near killed those kids withhis conditioning program and nearly made them quit. They didn't see Richie Farmer puking his guts up on runs around campus in those early weeks. Some of us did, and we remember. They didn't know that Somerset native Reggie Hanson played as our starting center the years before, or that landing NY recruit Jamal Mashburn was a HUGE deal.

To college hoops fans outside the UK family, that was just another UK team that got beat by Duke in a classic...but we know better than that. That was NOT a typical team...that was a group of kids whose oversized hearts made up for the lack of athletic ability and all-star talent, and we love them because of that, not in spite of that.

JMO

KD

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

"I was hoping we could all just keep it on the downlow....lol"

Wave 3 had this on the news last night, they had footage of Farmer and Feldhaus dipping bottles at Maker's Mark.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

boomdaddy wrote: I may be one of the few people who thinks this way, but Ibelieve those guys have been given way to much credit. They didn't have the typical "Kentucky" talent and they didn't get to the final four, because of Laetner. I really don't like the banner deal with them hanging in Rupp. None of them are all americans or hold any major records. The way the banners are tossed around in Rupp, they mean less and less.


What? Were you not around in 1992? Too young to remember that? Obviously, if you were rooting for the Cats in the early Pitino era, you would not feel this way.

[trublu]

Bourbon Town, thanks much for the info. I definitely want one. That team deserves the recognition as far as I'm concerned. They were real fighters and never gave up.:thumbup

[TransientAlum]

When our dream team of LeRon Ellis, Chris Mills, Rex Chapman (he left when the first news broke), Eric Manuel (banished), and Shawn Kemp all pulled chocks, they were all that was left. They were the ones who, supposedly, could not find another school to take them.

That first season Pitino was here, he held tryouts for walk-ons.Iremember many campus friends going just to experience the tryouts and even had a classmate from high school ride the pine that year. Anyone who remembers that time remembers how far we had fallen. Tryouts? At Kentucky? It was a terrible time for the Basketball team, the pride of the University. No one expected much and had no idea when or even if we would ever get back to being a national power.

These guys survived the ordeal of the 14-14 season. They were run out of the house by Kansas and Arkansas. They persevered that year and the next,as seniors, when no one gave us any chance of doing anything based on the prior season, they put together a NCAA run for the ages. They came up one game short of the Final Four.

These guys who couldnt get transfers, who were the rejects, took powerhouse Duke to the point no one was confident if anyone really won or lost the game. Duke repeated as Champions that year. The last team to do it before Florida did it this year. It is still considered "the game" by many. It was the hardest fought game Duke had that year and only a perfect game by Laettner saved the best team Duke has seen. Some consider the 92 Duke team amonggreatest ever.

These guys put pride back into wearing that Kentucky uniform and being a part of the University. That is more than enough to immortalize their efforts.

[boomdaddy]

Those players did the best with the talent that they had. I am not arguing that point. I still think that UK throws too many banners up in the rafters. The point that those players deserve credit for not leaving astounds me. They did not have the talent to play at a big time school. The stars that did, bolted for programs that weren't on probation, notably Chris Mills. Their place should be noted at the Wildacat museum and the new practice facility, but not in the rafters, imho.

As for commemorative bourbon bottles,my stance is that bourbon is for drinking, not looking at it on a shelf. But, you could probably slap anything with a wildcat on it and the fans will gobble it up. Makers used to rarely make a special bottle. Now it seems they churn one out, whenever the wind blows.

I think guns are for shootin, bourbon is for drinkin, and life is for making the best out of every situation. If I am ever lucky enough to get a rare Colt revolver in my posession, youcan bet I will be shootin it. And , when I get my hands on Kentucky bourbon, it will eventually find its way into a rocks glass.

[MSU Cat]

oruacat2 wrote: I got your back, GB, though the more publicity this gets, the harder it's gonna be to snag the bottles. I was hoping we could all just keep it on the downlow....lol

About that 1992 team...I'm surprised that anyone purporting to be a UK fan would feel that way about those kids. I can see someone outside the UK community feeling like they get too much publicity, because someone not familiar with the entire situation in-context wouldn't know all the facts. The probation, the defections, the controversy...Pelphrey, Farmer, Feldhaus...those were the kids who stuck it out while others bolted...(LeRon Ellis, Chris Mills), or received the hoops death penalty (Eric Manuel). Because they didn't have typical UK talent, the KY kids probably couldn't have went elsewhere even had they wanted to.

Someone outside of the UK community wouldn't know that despite what we all know now, Rick Pitino was NOT universally embraced initially. They don't remember the accusations of "snake oil salesman" and "Pitiner Arener" and "is Richie gonna play?" peppering the radio talkshow airwaves. They don't know how Rock Oliver damn near killed those kids withhis conditioning program and nearly made them quit. They didn't see Richie Farmer puking his guts up on runs around campus in those early weeks. Some of us did, and we remember. They didn't know that Somerset native Reggie Hanson played as our starting center the years before, or that landing NY recruit Jamal Mashburn was a HUGE deal.

To college hoops fans outside the UK family, that was just another UK team that got beat by Duke in a classic...but we know better than that. That was NOT a typical team...that was a group of kids whose oversized hearts made up for the lack of athletic ability and all-star talent, and we love them because of that, not in spite of that.

JMO

KD
Nice.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

FROM THE KEENELAND WEBSITE http://ww2.keeneland.com/default.aspx

Looks like you will need to arrive extremely early to get an autographed bottle

Keeneland, Maker’s Mark Announce New Ticket System for Commemorative Bottle Signings


March 31, 2007




In an effort to better accommodate the growing legion of fans who attend the Maker’s Mark bottle signing at Keeneland, a new ticketing system will be implemented this year.

“This event has become quite a phenomenon,” said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson, who also takes part in the signing. “We love having Maker’s Mark and Keeneland fans come and share this experience with us. With its huge growth in recent years, though, we felt a ticketing system was needed to help ensure that we accommodate as many people as possible, and that it’s a pleasurable experience for everyone involved.”

The guidelines for the new ticket distribution system are as follows:


The first 1,300 people in line will receive a ticket from a security official; each person in line will receive only one ticket;
Officials will begin distributing tickets during the early morning hours until all 1,300 tickets are distributed;
A ticket assures that you will get your bottle(s) signed; however, it does not dictate your place in line because the tickets are not numbered;
If you receive a ticket and then choose to exit the line for an extended period of time before the signing begins, you must return to the end of the line by 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning;
The tickets have been specially designed to be a keepsake; upon having his or her bottle signed, each fan will retain one-half of their ticket as a souvenir.

[Blue Heaven]

Wow Bommdaddy! I'd better not say anything else to you for fear of being banned!

Let's put it this way, i DARE you to say that for all to hear at ANY home game in the near future. :thumbdown

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Was anyone able to get a bottle today? I totally forgot about it, till after I got off work and everyone was sold out. Most places said that they received 4 cases of them and they went quickly.

[ukfanman]

Liquor Barn herein Lexington was a total zoo this morning, probably 400 people in line.

Local Rite Aid had 71 people in line for 12 bottles.

Was able to snare 2, one for myself, one for my brother-in-law in Nashville.

IF (and I say IF)he declines, I have one that I'll be willing to share with anyone who did not get one. Just pay me the 45$ and shipping.

[oruacat2]

Don't let the long line at Liquor Barn fool you. Maker's Mark distributes these bottles according to how much bourbon a store sells during the year, so while a Rite Aid or CVS might only get a few cases, a huge seller like Liquor Barn probably got at least 24 cases or so. That long line is intimidating at 9:00 in the morning, but once those doors opens it moves FAST. Really, no need to get there at 7 like some folks do, because with that many cases, the difference between being at the front of the line for two cold dark hours and showing up at 8:45 (like I did) is negligible. Get in, get your one allowed bottle, lock it in your vehicle, get back in line, repeat as necessary. When I got that last bottle that I'd promised to my brother, there was no longer any line at all, and Liquor Barn probably had 3-4 cases left over when I headed for home. They made 18,000 of these things, so they won't be worth much financially...just sentimental value. Anyone looking to collect the bottles as a profit-making enterprise will be disappointed except for the limited-run bottles (like the Marty and Joe bottle for Reds fans that was only released in Cincy...only 3000 of those babies). That said, this "Unforgettables" bottle produced the longest line yet of any of the bottles I have - folks really loved that team, and really wanted this one.

Just some advice for my fellow Cat fans.

KD

[Blue Heaven]

Is anyone getting them signed? I am going but wanting some info about when I should get there. Has anyone done these signings before? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[blueheretic]

I was able to pick up a case of them. But mine are all for friends and family.

[bigsky]

blueheretic wrote: I was able to pick up a case of them. But mine are all for friends and family.

Well, then, BH, I'll be expecting mine in the mail from ya just any ole day...you know where to send it.

No seriously, if I could get one "way out west" then everybody else should be able to get one as well.

Nice quotes at the bottom too, bh. I bet we get two new recruits next week, both of whom will help us do just that, cut down the nets.

[blueheretic]

MAN!!! I loved the way that he kept referencing that. CUTTING DOWN NETS!

I just kept thinking; "This guy gets it. We finally have a coachwho gets it!"

I can't tell you how much I have missed that attitude at UK.

[atlandy]

boomdaddy wrote: I may be one of the few people who thinks this way, but Ibelieve those guys have been given way to much credit. They didn't have the typical "Kentucky" talent and they didn't get to the final four, because of Laetner. I really don't like the banner deal with them hanging in Rupp. None of them are all americans or hold any major records. The way the banners are tossed around in Rupp, they mean less and less.
I can't believe someone actually posted this. People are gonna hammer this statement

[Blue Heaven]

I don't beleive boomdaddy was old enough to remember what those guys went through. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. If he was, that must be some heavy s@!t (mailto:s@!t) he is smoking!