King of Kentucky bourbon: More bottles are available this year, but the price is higher
Every year since 2018, Brown-Forman has released a special single-barrel bourbon that fans have come to covet.
King of Kentucky, a very old label that the company revived in six years ago, has released the 2024 edition, a 16-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.
The good news this year is that there are more bottles. The bad news: It’s still pretty limited, with only about 5,100 bottles available.
When, where bottles will be available
The seventh edition of King of Kentucky will hit shelves beginning in October. It has a suggested retail price of $349.99 with a proof that ranges from 125-135, depending on the barrel.
Most bottles of the ultra-premium bourbon will be released in Kentucky, with some available in limited quantities in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, New York metro area, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.
Each bottle comes in a decorative canister; all are wax-dipped and hand-numbered with proof, age, warehouse location, lot number, serial number and barrel number.
What does King of Kentucky taste like?
“Reputation alone justifies King of Kentucky’s status as one of the most sought-after Kentucky straight bourbons on the market,” said Brown-Forman master distiller Chris Morris in a statement. “But reputations must not only be earned but defended — and this year’s release is sure to please the palate of every bourbon aficionado.”
Morris chose two lots of barrels to set aside from 2007. Both were made with a mashbill of 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley.
“This year’s release of 63 barrels came from the production dates July 19, 2007, and Nov. 15, 2007. All the barrels were aged in Warehouses G and J at the Brown-Forman Distillery,” Morris said in a news release.
According to the tasting notes, the nose is rich chocolate covered coconut, vanilla bean and caramel, caramelized fruit, oak and a hint of malt. On the palate, its dark chocolate, old oak, sweet coconut, malt and rich vanilla over wood spice.
