Maker's Mark bottle featuring Tubby Smith and 1998 Championship set to release on April 6

The fourth commemorative Maker’s Mark bottle in the UK Athletics series is set to release on April 6.

The cover boy? Former Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith and his 1998 National Championship “Comeback Cats.”

Here is a closer look at the bottle:

This is the fourth of five bottles to be released in the partnership between UK Athletics and Maker’s Mark. The fifth will celebrate John Calipari’s 2012 title team and will release in 2019.

Here is the part of the official release:

UK Athletics has partnered with Maker’s Mark® and Keeneland with a goal of raising $2 million for the center through the companies’ own contributions and a portion of the proceeds of sales of special commemorative bottles of the distillery’s handmade bourbon.

The fourth commemorative Maker’s Mark® bottle in the series will feature the 1997-98 men’s basketball national championship team, which earned the moniker “Comeback Cats” during an incredible run through the NCAA Tournament. Bottles will go on sale through retail outlets throughout Kentucky on April 6. The first three commemorative bottles in the series honored the program’s first six national championships.

“The legacy of our 1998 national championship lives on today,” Barnhart said. “They captured the imagination of the Big Blue Nation by never quitting under any circumstances and we are proud to honor them with this deserved tribute.”

A bottle released next year will complete the five-bottle series to benefit the CATS program, which serves student-athletes from all of UK’s 22 varsity sports teams.

Like we’ve seen with past bottles, there will be an official signing featuring members of the 1998 championship team on Friday, April 13 at Keeneland.

As of today, Cameron Mills, Scott Padgett, Wayne Turner, Jeff Sheppard, Mike Bradley, Ryan Hogan, Saul Smith, Allen Edwards and Steve Masiello are confirmed participants in the signing.

A bottle signing for this year’s commemorative Maker’s Mark® bottle will take place at Keeneland Race Course’s Keene Barn on the morning of Friday, April 13. Ticketing for this year’s signing event is different than in years past: anyone wanting to attend MUST first get a ticket online at www.keeneland.com/makers-mark-bottle-signing after first creating an account. The free tickets will become available online at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 9.

Set your calendars, BBN.