Some substantial-end dining establishments and cocktail bars deal with to get a few bottles of King of Kentucky for their whiskey menus. Prevent in and ask if they may have it, or could possibly get it for yourself. You’ll spend in excess of retail selling price, but may get to try a pour with no getting the whole bottle.
The tasting crew determined sure seven-12 months-previous barrels from heat cycled warehouses and moved them into Warehouse O (the unheated, solitary story warehouse over the south end of your campus) to age for another 7 decades. This permitted a lot less liquid to evaporate over the exact same time frame which implies the barrels gained’t drop anymore liquid than Definitely essential.
Flicker is at present Robb Report's whiskey critic, crafting a weekly assessment of by far the most newsworthy releases all over. He is a freelance writer covering the spirits marketplace whose work has appeared in…
Obviously the critics concur that King of Kentucky signifies an outstanding wheated bourbon and considered one of the finest premium bourbons currently available. The complexity of flavors, velvety texture and Total professional craftsmanship shine as a result of in each and every sip based on the specialists. It’s No surprise need for this scarce whiskey stays so large. Other Premium Bourbons to Try King of Kentucky stands in rarefied air as One of the more coveted and costly bourbons available. For bourbon fanatics or Those people looking to splurge over a Exclusive bottle, here are some other top quality alternatives to take into consideration: – Previous Rip Van Winkle – This wheated bourbon produced by Buffalo Trace is also closely aged, sleek, As well as in really confined source.
Merely a confined variety of barrels are picked by Brown-Forman’s Grasp Distiller for that King of Kentucky releases. This scarcity and mindful barrel variety are explanation why it’s so scarce and priced at the ultra-quality amount.
For The very first time in This system, there was likely to be two individual releases of King of Kentucky. The primary launch was gonna be 15-a long time-aged and see distribution in Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois.
I frequently get requested what my preferred distillery in Kentucky is. That’s an difficult dilemma due to the fact each distillery does their unique matter so nicely. Then they showcase that “thing” by offering us an once-a-year Unique launch of some form.
MSRP and Availability: King of Kentucky features a prompt retail price of $399 for every bottle in 2025. This 12 months’s release is predicted to range close to 5,000 bottles, that may be distributed to choose vendors and on-premise accounts commencing in Oct. Real to its name, King of Kentucky frequently sees its maximum distribution within the point out of Kentucky.
It truly is loaded and bold in the most effective of the way, and does so inside of a well balanced shipping of its flavors. It tastes like a typical bourbon, but slightly augments its flavors to be even larger and much better than what you get in other significant-evidence, superior-aged pours. Again, King of Kentucky does every king of kentucky bourbon little thing suitable and carries on to generally be one of bourbon’s very best once-a-year releases.
It’s missing this telltale Wooden varnish Notice which i constantly seem to search out with bourbon aged within their warmth-cycled warehouses. The odd section is, I’m Virtually favourable this barrel (and the opposite KoKs for this year) noticed warmth-cycling in some unspecified time in the future within their maturation. Just what exactly occurred to it? I’m undecided, nonetheless it enables lighter flavors and a lot of the rye notes to reveal by themselves. It’s different, but in all the ideal ways doable.
King of Kentucky is distilled and aged solely in Kentucky in the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. This distillery has become making bourbon considering that 1870. In contrast to most bourbons which use a mashbill made up of corn, rye, and malted barley, King of Kentucky contains a substantial corn mashbill that contains over eighty% corn (as well as 10% rye, and ten% malted barley). Though the precise age assertion could possibly differ calendar year to 12 months, King of Kentucky is typically aged for 15 yrs in charred new American oak barrels, making it an extra-aged bourbon. The higher corn material and lengthy getting older system give it a clean, sweet, loaded taste profile.
I in no way like to enter an assessment with higher anticipations, but there’s no stopping it using this type of bottle. Almost everything from the packaging for the provenance appears to be elite. There’s not a flaw wherever being discovered, just pure, unadulterated bourbon glory. The one thing which i’ll touch upon is how this barrel from Warehouse G matured into a product that doesn’t instantly strike me for a Brown-Forman product.
Alas, You aren't very likely to locate it for that price. The incredibly minimal releases bring about King of Kentucky bourbon promoting out quickly every year. If you find a bottle in a liquor shop, it is likely to operate you between $650 to $1000.
It’s also the oldest merchandise Brown-Forman has at any time put out. I might declare that depending on style by yourself, this conveniently tops all current special releases from Heaven Hill, Beam (Though I do appreciate me some Frankfort Hardin’s Creek), Maker’s Mark, Willett and also Considerably with the BTAC line. That’s no uncomplicated feat. It’s with that all in mind which i say even if you’re in the camp that the 2023 King of Kentucky isn’t as Particular as former releases, it absolutely was still special to me. And this may carry on to generally be the very best bottle I hope I can discover (or at the least style) annually.
There is really a substantial amount of science and experimentation that goes into storing barrels in warehouses, Contrary to popular belief. Quite a few distillers believe that the floor from the warehouse a barrel is on appreciably impacts the pace at which the whiskey matures, its flavor, and evidence.