Brown-Forman has announced the return of its 2026 King of Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon, a highly limited 14-year-old expression drawn from just 99 barrels. The annual release carries individual barrel proofs ranging from 125 to 135, delivering the character and variation that define the brand’s single-barrel bottlings.
The bourbon is bottled at cask strength, with each barrel yielding a small number of numbered bottles.
Because this is a single-barrel release, the exact flavor profile varies from bottle to bottle, with Brown-Forman’s representative tasting notes including aromas of orange zest, caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted marshmallow.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORYThe official notes from the brand describe a fruit-forward profile, followed by dark maple syrup, vanilla wafers and baked banana, with an exceptionally long caramel and chocolate finish.
“This year’s King of Kentucky is a remarkable expression of what time, careful maturation and thoughtful barrel selection can create,” said Caleb Trigo, assistant master distiller at Brown-Forman.
“Each of these 99 barrels was selected for its exceptional character, and after 14 years of aging, they deliver the bold, complex profile that defines King of Kentucky,” Trigo added.
Trending Content
The 2026 edition represents a larger release than the previous year. That’s more whiskey than Brown-Forman released last year, with the 2025 edition, a 17-year-old bourbon, drawn from 63 barrels and yielding approximately 5,000 bottles.
Bottles are set to arrive this fall at a suggested price of $399 (£297).
King of Kentucky carries a long heritage. The name dates back to 1881, when it enjoyed a long reign as a respected straight bourbon, before being discontinued in 1968 and fading into memory for half a century, until Brown-Forman revived the brand in 2018.
Since that revival, the label has become a collector favorite. With only a few thousand bottles produced each year and demand from serious collectors worldwide, it rarely appears at retail.
The single-barrel line sits among Brown-Forman’s prestige expressions. The revival positioned King of Kentucky alongside Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection as Brown-Forman’s collector tier.
