Starbucks Kentucky mug: Discovery Series
The Kentucky mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the state name in orange over a dark green circle, with two wide-brimmed hats, a banjo, a mint drink and a large bird. A race car, a pot of greens and a bucket fill the other sides.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Kentucky, USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
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The water glasses Derby fans kept taking home
After the 1938 Kentucky Derby, the staff at Churchill Downs noticed they were short more than a few water glasses [1]. Fans had stolen them as souvenirs of the day. The track decided to sell the souvenir instead of losing it. It took the idea to Harry Stevens, the caterer it had under contract [2]. In 1939 it offered the first commemorative Derby glass, and the drink chosen to fill it was the mint julep [3]. The Kentucky Derby Museum's curator, Chris Goodlett, says 1939 is recognized as the year of the official mint julep glass [4]. Churchill Downs says fans drink more than 125,000 juleps over the two days of Oaks and Derby weekend [5]. That takes 2,250 pounds of fresh mint [6]. The tall glass of ice and mint on the Kentucky mug (5) may be a julep.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
KENTUCKY in orange capitals over a dark green circle.
- 2Wide-brimmed hats
Two wide-brimmed hats sit above the lettering: a yellow-and-green striped one with a flower and a tilted blue one with a yellow ribbon.
- 3Dessert slice
A slice of dessert topped with a swirl of blue-white cream sits at the upper left.
- 4Banjo
A banjo with a blue head and orange rim runs diagonally at the left.
- 5Mint drink
A tall glass of ice, mint leaves and a straw sits below the lettering.
- 6Large bird
A large blue-and-green bird with an orange head and fanned feathers stands at the right of the circle, like a turkey.
- 7Race car
An orange-and-blue race car sits at the far left.
- 8Pot of greens Side view
A blue pot of greens and carrots with a ladle sits in the middle of the side.
- 9Figure covered in greens Side view
A figure with arms raised is covered in green beans and leaves, beside a yellow-and-green car.
- 10Carrots Side view
Orange carrots point up at the left of the side photo.
- 11Blue stream Side view
A blue stream and green hillside run along the base of the side.
- 12STARBUCKS wordmark Back view
The vertical STARBUCKS wordmark runs beside the handle on this side.
- 13Bucket Back view
A blue striped bucket with steam rising holds golden pieces of food, with a drumstick beside it.
- 14Bat and mitts Back view
A long wooden bat with a blue ball above it sits next to two orange-and-grey mitts.
The three photos together cover most of the outside of the mug. The area behind the handle is out of view.
Collector notes
- The inside of this mug is lime green, which shows in the side photo.
- The back photo shows the mug in its dark box, printed STARBUCKS DISCOVERY SERIES, with a bucket, a bat and two mitts on that face of the mug.
Before you buy
The photos do not show the area behind the handle. The inside of this mug is lime green. Kentucky also appears in the Been There and You Are Here series; this one is the Discovery Series, printed on its dark box.
Other Kentucky mugs
About the Discovery Series
Sources
- A Taste of History: The Souvenir Kentucky Derby Glass (America's Best Racing)
- A Taste of History: The Souvenir Kentucky Derby Glass (America's Best Racing)
- A Taste of History: The Souvenir Kentucky Derby Glass (America's Best Racing)
- A look at the history behind the souvenir mint julep glass at Churchill Downs (WAVE)
- Mint Julep (Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs)
- Mint Julep (Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs)
