Keeneland and Maker's Mark have announced that the 17th edition of its signature charitable bottle series will honor UK basketball great and James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Dan Issel. Proceeds from the bottle sales will benefit the Gill Heart Institute at UK HealthCare.
“I am extremely honored to be chosen by Maker's Mark and Keeneland to be on this year's bottle,” Issel said. “Both companies are at the very top of their respected industries. The fact that the proceeds go to UK Med Center make this honor even more special. I look forward to the April 12 signing when I can visit with some of those great UK fans.”
Maker's Mark will donate proceeds from the sales – estimated to be about $175,000 – to the Gill Heart Institute, which will utilize these funds to help build a dedicated cardiovascular medicine patient floor in UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital's new Pavilion A.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.