Tagged: Maker's Mark

One of Kentucky’s best-known bourbon producers is selling thousands more commemorative bottles of its product to raise money for the University of Louisville.

Maker’s Mark is selling 12,600 bottles featuring a photo and tribute to men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino.

Proceeds will to the U of L Center of Excellence, an $8 million facility for student-athletes in all sports that will be built on campus.

Maker’s Mark began producing  U of L commemorative  bottles last year in support of the center, which will be located at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Rick Pitino will be featured on a limited edition series of Maker's Mark bourbon bottles benefiting a University of Louisville academic project.

It's the latest honor for the Cardinals' men's basketball coach, who led the team to the 2013 national championship and will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in September. (He was also introduced to body art recently.)

Maker's Mark had something to cheer from the first three months of 2013, despite weathering intense criticism for tinkering with its bourbon.

In response to criticism, Maker's Mark has decided not to reduce the alcohol by volume of its bourbon after all.

The distillery had recently moved to 42-percent alcohol by volume; the switch back to the traditional 45-percent alcohol by volume is immediate. The Loretto, Ky., distillery has posted this statement to its website—which Sunday afternoon wasn't loading properly—and Facebook page.