King of Kentucky Expands with Small Batch

King of Kentucky has announced a 2026 release: King of Kentucky Small Batch.

This limited-edition collection celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States and the creation of Kentucky County, Virginia, which became the State of Kentucky. King of Kentucky, created in 1881, is named in honor of thoroughbred horse racing. Brown-Forman has owned the brand since 1936 and revived it in 2018.

“For years, I’ve held onto these rare, aged barrels, waiting for a moment significant enough to share them,” says Chris Morris, Brown-Forman Master Distiller Emeritus. “To celebrate the founding of our country with a whiskey of this caliber feels like the perfect tribute.”

For the first time, King of Kentucky introduces a three-batch series, each bottled at a distinct proof to showcase the complexity of its aging process:

Batch 1: 105 proof

Batch 2: 107.5 proof

Batch 3: 110 proof

Each batch is a blend of barrels aged 12–18 years. Some barrels had exceptionally high angel’s share, with just 16% liquid after years of evaporation.

Distillery-provided tasting notes are as follows:

Batch 1 (105 proof): Sweet aromatics of chocolate, caramel and toasted marshmallow balanced with dried apricot and clove; smooth oak and toasted coconut on the palate.

Batch 2 (107.5 proof): Dark fruit notes of dates and fig layered with caramel and charred oak; minty with hints of vanilla.

Batch 3 (110 proof): Rich chocolate and brown sugar brightened by citrus and pine; bold oak and spice on the palate.

King of Kentucky Small Batch will be available in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $299 per 750-ml. bottle, in select markets nationwide.

This release differs from the traditional Single Barrel expression, which will continue annually in the fall. The Small Batch series was crafted at the historic Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, KY (DSP-KY-354).

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