Ripken Brothers Create Specialized Bourbon

Baseball coaches around the country now have extra motivation to bring their team to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in 2024.

During a recent visit to the city — where they operate The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown — Ripken Baseball cofounders Cal Ripken, Jr., and Bill Ripken visited the Maker’s Mark Distillery to experience the brand’s first custom barrel program, Maker’s Mark Private Selection.

The Ripkens personally crafted their own blend of bourbon, named The Ripken Blend, which will be available to baseball coaches who register their teams to play at The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown in 2024.

“Bill and I had a lot of fun with the Maker’s Mark team on the Bourbon Trail in beautiful Kentucky,” said Cal Ripken, Jr. “The end result will be a unique piece of memorabilia for some of our coaches that will remind them of their baseball memories in Elizabethtown for years to come.”

The Ripken Blend Private Selection will feature about 248 bottles, autographed by Cal and Bill. This marks the first time the Ripken brothers have crafted a signature bourbon.

There are three ways for coaches to receive an autographed bottle of The Ripken Blend:

• Register for one week-long experience at The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown
• Register for one Knockout Tournament and one four-game Classic or three-game tournament at The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown
• Register for three total tournaments, including one spring or fall tournament at The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown

“This special blend will be one of the most unique ‘only in Kentucky’ collectibles for baseball coaches,” said Janna Clark, executive director of Elizabethtown Tourism. “Whether the bottles are shared, saved, or displayed, we hope they enjoy taking a little piece of Kentucky back home with them.”