LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In Kentucky, visions of spring pop up when the Kentucky Derby Festival announces the annual Pegasus Pins.
The 2022 KDF Pegasus Pins arrived Thursday at Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville and celebrate 50 years of the collectibles. The pins are on sale for $6 each. Heaven Hill Distillery is helping to celebrate the 50th anniversary with a special Evan Williams Single Barrel Limited Edition Kentucky Derby Festival bourbon bottle. The special bottle features a Gold 50th Pegasus Pin sealed in gold wax on the bottleneck.
“Celebrating the 50th year for the Pegasus Pins will make this year’s Derby Festival even more special,” said Matt Gibson, KDF President & CEO in a statement. “As always, these pins are an incredible value, providing free admission into many of the Festival’s events, plus any pin could make you a Grand Prize winner.”
The very first Pegasus Pin was created in 1973 and this year’s anniversary edition features a holographic image of the number 50 and a tribute to that first pin. The pins also feature the Louisville skyline, which represents KDF’s connection with the community.
Right now, the only place fans can buy the pins is at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience at 528 W. Main Street in Louisville. They will be the exclusive vendor through March 4. The commemorative bottles are also available at Evan Williams while supplies last. Each of the special edition bottles is $79.99.
“The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is proud to partner with the Kentucky Derby Festival and celebrate a milestone year for the Pegasus Pin, which represents the unique Kentucky spirit that makes this time of year so exciting in the Bluegrass State,” said Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau.
Beginning March 7, the Pegasus Pins will be available at multiple retail outlets including grocery stores, banks and gas stations around Kentuckiana. Fans can also buy the pins online at PegasusPins.com. If you buy the pins from a retailer they are $6, if you buy them at KDF event, the pin will cost $7.
The Pegasus Pins are also a chance to win prizes. KDF will give away 10 Grand Prizes over eight weeks and KDF says any pin can win. Beginning Friday, March 18 through Friday, May 6, WAVE television will announce weekly winners on Friday. To be eligible to win, fans will need to register their pins at PegasusPins.com.
The 2022 Grand Prizes 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, $3,000 Ashley HomeStore shopping spree and much more.
Each Pegasus Pin includes coupons from retail partners including Mike Linnigs, Kern’s Kitchen Derby-Pie and Rooties Sports Bar.