Brown-Forman revived the identify in 2018, making this the eighth once-a-year release while in the sequence. And though it’s type of difficult to actually say with out seeking most of the expressions aspect-by-facet, this is the greatest a single I’ve tasted so far. WATCH
The tasting group determined certain 7-calendar year-old barrels from heat cycled warehouses and moved them into Warehouse O (the unheated, single story warehouse about the south close from the campus) to age for an additional seven decades. This authorized much less liquid to evaporate above the exact same time period which suggests the barrels gained’t drop any more liquid than Certainly vital.
Hayley Hamilton Cogill/Tasting Table If you're a lover of higher-proof whiskey, you'll likely take pleasure in the 2025 expression from King of Kentucky. The bourbon is rich, very well-rounded, and authentic, showing a strong palate that combines earthy, savory features with sweet flavors and subtle confectionery notes. While the price could be a king's ransom, Brown-Forman delivers on the quality, creating a product deserving within your bar cart. The producer properly washed absent any considerations I had the seventeen-yr-previous bourbon was aged too long just after the very first sip, because the bourbon gracefully coated my palate.
It all will get a lift by sweet caramel. Spices present up in the form of ground peppercorns, fiery cinnamon and chili powder. Tannins are available the form of shoe leather-based, cigar wrapper, baker’s chocolate and oak.
On this information, I'm likely to share my overview along with you from the King of Kentucky bottles I happen to be lucky plenty of to try. But very first, I want to share some track record along with you with regard to the sequence as well as the model just in case you are unfamiliar with King of Kentucky.
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I was thinking of getting started this assessment by using a zippy a person-liner like “King of Kentucky requires no introduction,” but then it occurred to me that there are many fanatics who may very well be unfamiliar Using the brand. In case you’re among those people, listed here’s why you may not have heard of this manufacturer ahead of. To begin with, it’s only dispersed in a handful of states – in 2022 they ended up Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio.
MSRP and Availability: King of Kentucky provides a advised retail cost of $399 per bottle in 2025. This calendar year’s release is expected to variety around five,000 bottles, which is able to be dispersed to choose suppliers and on-premise accounts commencing in Oct. Accurate to its identify, King of Kentucky typically sees its greatest distribution inside the condition of Kentucky.
This may be followed by a Exclusive 18-yr-old launch could well be released only in Kentucky. All had been picked out by Chris Morris.
Because of the rarity of such barrels, there isn't a outlined annual quantity. Just like the beyond regular time it takes with the liquid to experienced, King of Kentucky’s deal exhibits a personal craftsmanship. Each individual bottle comes enclosed inside of a ornamental canister, and tells the Tale of its origin in the details on the front and back of its offer.
The 2025 Model marks the eighth version for your manufacturer, and such as the 2024 launch, it is actually viewing a $fifty maximize in excess of the prior calendar year. However, if a person brand has continually proved its worth, It might be the rightfully named King of Kentucky.
Regardless of this bourbon staying owned by the exact same parent corporation as Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, and Jack Daniel’s, King of Kentucky is produced from another mashbill than these makes. It’s exactly the same recipe useful king of kentucky bourbon for Early Instances (at least just before it had been offered to Sazerac) and just one Old Forester expression, 1924—79 p.c corn, 11 p.c rye, and 10 percent malted barley. The 2015 version is an individual-barrel launch bottled at barrel energy, which ranges from 124.four to one hundred thirty five proof dependant upon the cask. The sample I obtained to try was correct in the center at about 127 proof, that's somewhat large for my liking but nevertheless managed to get an very drinkable whiskey. Learn distiller emeritus Chris Morris selected 63 barrels for this launch that were distilled on two production dates in 2007, making this a seventeen-calendar year-aged bourbon, and the whiskey was matured within the fourth ground of Warehouse J and the 1st ground of Warehouse G within the Brown-Forman Distillery.
For many bourbon fans, King of Kentucky is probably the “holy grail” unicorn bottles They are really ready to preserve up additional for. I’ve been Fortunate sufficient to try it in a mid-price variety, but I can say devoid of hesitation than the usual bottle of King of Kentucky can justify a $1,000+ price tag tag.
To select King of Kentucky for 2025, learn distiller emeritus Chris Morris sampled one hundred barrels earmarked for your collection. Soon after 17 many years, 7 or 8 ended up fully dry, getting missing their contents to evaporation and leakage. Morris right away turned down One more seven or 8 because the whiskey wasn’t approximately high-quality standards.
In line with Morris, The end result is bourbon That usually tastes more mature than its age assertion. Having said that, he doesn’t Have a very rigid or preconceived Idea of King of Kentucky’s flavor profile.