LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While your hat or fascinator may still be in the works, you can now get your hands on another Derby fashion staple: the Pegasus Pin. On Tuesday morning, the first shipment of 2021 Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Pins arrived at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Main Street, the first place you can purchase this year's pin. The pins, which retail for $6, will only be sold at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience until March 1.
To commemorate the 49th edition of the pins, Heaven Hill Distillery has produced a special Evan Williams Single Barrel Limited Edition Kentucky Derby Festival bourbon bottle which features a gold Pegasus Pin sealed in hot pink wax on the neck of each bottle.
“Our partnership with Evan Williams celebrates two of Kentucky’s favorite things – the Derby Festival and bourbon,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival (KDF) president and CEO. “Although 2021 will be different, Pegasus Pins are still a great way to share the Derby Festival spirit and support your favorite events.”
The bottles are available to purchase at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience beginning March 11 while supplies last for $74.99.
“The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is proud to partner again with the Kentucky Derby Festival to share the unique Kentucky spirit of hospitality, entertainment and resiliency,” said Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau. “Join us as we raise a toast to all of those in the Bluegrass state who have supported our industries over the past year and look forward to a time of celebration during 2021 Kentucky Derby Festival.”
The Pegasus Pin program has served as one of KDF's primary funding sources since 1973. The 2021 design features KDF's signature teal and magenta colors.
The pins will be available at retail locations such as grocery stores, gas stations, and banks around Metro Louisville and Southern Indiana beginning March 1. They can also be purchased online.
You may not receive this year's pin in your envelope, however. Some envelopes will include a vintage pin from anywhere between 1973 to 2020. For those who only want the 2021 pin, those can specifically be purchased at PegasusPins.com beginning March 1. A 2021 pin is also guaranteed with the Variety Fun Pack, which includes five Pegasus Pins for $25.
“Each pin holds memories and a piece of history, so we encourage Festival fans to try to collect them all," Gibson said.
Over eight weeks, KDF will give away 10 Grand Prizes that any 2021 Pegasus Pin can win. The prizes will be given away on Fridays beginning Friday, March 12, through Friday, April 30.
The prizes this year include an Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Speakeasy Bourbon party, $2,500 Main Event Entertainment Gift Card, $2,500 Great Clips package with haircuts for a year and a travel package, $2,500 AAA Vacation Package, $2,500 Commonwealth Credit Union Visa Gift Card, $2,500 Cox’s Smoker’s Outlet and Spirit Shoppe The Cox’s and Maker’s Mark Bourbon Experience, $3,000 Meijer Shopping Spree, $2,500 Papa John’s Gift Card for free pizza for a year, $2,500 Kroger Fuel Card, and $2,500 Kroger Grocery Card.
People who find the coveted gold Pegasus Pin have a chance to win a $15,000 cash prize. There are nearly 10,000 gold pins in circulation, meaning your odds of finding one are about one in 10.
Besides the Grand Prizes, each envelope also includes an offer from Great Clips and eight coupons provided by retail partners including Belle of Louisville Riverboats, Feeders Supply, the Kentucky State Fair, and Kern's Kitchen Derby-Pie Chocolate nut pie.