King of Kentucky Straight Bourbon is back for another batch with the recent release of its fifth edition.
Now hitting shelves across the U.S., two limited-edition expressions will be available to mark the brand’s 5th anniversary.
The first of the 2022 expressions is a 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, featuring an embossed label with a stamp border and details about the bourbon.
About 3,500 bottles were made and the straight bourbon has a suggested retail price of $249.99.
A statement from Brown-Forman notes that while the majority of the 2022 batch will remain in Kentucky, the expression will also be on sale in limited amounts in Illinois and Ohio.
The second expression is also quite limited, an 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, featuring an embossed label with a gold-foiled stamp border and gold details. Only 250 bottles were made, and they have a suggested retail price of $349.99.
The 18-year-old is only available in the Kentucky market.
King of Kentucky was established in 1881 as a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, and Brown-Forman acquired the brand in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers. By 1940, they converted it to a blended whiskey until it was discontinued in 1968. In 2018, Brown-Forman revived the label, paying homage to the brand’s past.
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“We are excited to celebrate the fifth year of the King of Kentucky brand with the return of two special expressions,” said Master Distiller Chris Morris. “This brand demonstrates Brown-Forman’s commitment to and expertise in the growing American whiskey category.”
For the 2022 bottlings, Morris chose two lots of barrels to set aside for the limited-release … one from 2004 and the second from 2006.
“This year’s releases come from two production days, two years apart,” Morris explained. “This showcases what a difference two years at these extreme ages make on the color, flavor, and aroma of this wonderful whiskey.”
Every bottle comes in a decorative tin canister, and tells the story of its origin through the details on the front and back of its package. All are filled, bottled, wax-dipped, and numbered by hand with details including proof, age, warehouse location, lot number, serial number, and barrel number, all selected by Morris.
Bottle One Tasting Notes:
- Proof: 130.6
- Age: 15 years
- Aroma: Notes of dark sorghum, resinous oak and honey top a medley of dried fruit and cigar tobacco.
- Flavor: Oak spices, dried fruit and sorghum.
Bottle Two Tasting Notes:
- Proof: 130.3
- Age: 18 years
- Aroma: Rich molasses, dark caramel and aged honeycomb are brightened with hints of tea leaf and ripe tree fruit.
- Flavor: Baked spiced tree fruit, molasses and sharp dark tea.
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