King of Kentucky bourbon returns. Details on how many bottles, where to buy and price

Who is King of Kentucky? Well, it isn’t Gov. Andy Beshear or Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Or University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops or even basketball coach John Calipari.

As bourbon collectors know, King of Kentucky is a super-premium straight bourbon. And it’s back for a sixth edition.

The annual fall release will hit store shelves in mid-October and this year’s version is 16 years old.

Louisville-based Brown-Forman, which revived the historic brand in 2018, distilled this version in 2007 from a mashbill of 79% corn, 11% and 10% malted barley.

It’s 125.8 proof and has a nose of dark graham cracker, vanilla and charred oak with hints of port, cognac and milk chocolate-coated coconut. On the palate, it’s dark chocolate mocha with traces of black tea and leathery tannins.

King of Kentucky was established in 1881; Brown-Forman acquired the brand in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers. It was discontinued in 1968. In 2018, the company brought it back and it has become one of the most-sought annual releases by bourbon collectors.

How much King of Kentucky will be released this year?

According to master distiller Chris Morris, a single lot of barrels from that year were set aside for this limited release. They yielded an average of 35 percent, according to the company.

“This year’s release of 51 barrels came from one production date, July 19, 2007. All the barrels were aged in Warehouse G at the Brown-Forman Distillery,” Morris said in a news release. “This showcases what a difference each individual barrel has at this extreme age on the color, flavor and aroma of this wonderful whiskey.”

Where the super-premium bourbon will be sold, price

About 3,800 bottles (750 ml) will be available with a suggested retail price of $299.00. Most of the bottles will remain in Kentucky but limited quantities will be available to buy in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, New York, Ohio and Tennessee.

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