King of Kentucky

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King of Kentucky is a single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon program produced by Brown-Forman, releasing cask-strength expressions drawn from barrels aged between 14 and 17 years. The whiskey is made in Kentucky, where the continental climate - marked by hot summers and cold winters - drives the cyclical expansion and contraction of spirit into charred American white oak, concentrating flavor and deepening color over extended maturation. Each release is bottled from an individual barrel at natural proof, with recorded figures ranging from 126.9 to 134.5 proof across the 2020 through 2024 releases. Annual releases are numbered and strictly limited, with individual barrels yielding as few as 99 bottles. The result is a series of age-dated, high-proof bourbons where vintage, barrel number, and proof vary from release to release, making each bottling a distinct and documentable expression of the program.
    10 products
    King of Kentucky 17 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel 9, 130.1 Proof 2025 Release
    $2,499.97
    King of Kentucky 17 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel 69, 133.1 Proof 2025 Release
    $2,599.97
    King of Kentucky 17 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel 30, 131.2 Proof 2025 Release
    $2,499.97
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2022 Release 127.5 Proof - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2022 Release #27 127.5 Proof
    $2,899.97
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #7 2022 Release 1 of 99 - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #7 2022 Release 1 of 99
    $2,899.97
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    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 16 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2024 Release 63.45% Barrel 28 - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 16 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2024 Release 63.45% Barrel 28
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    Brown Forman's King of Kentucky 16 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2023 Release - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman's King of Kentucky 16 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2023 Release #39
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    Brown Forman's King of Kentucky 14 Year Old Bourbon 2021 Single Barrel #6 131.5 Proof - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman's King of Kentucky 14 Year Old Bourbon 2021 Single Barrel #6 131.5 Proof
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    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2022 Release 126.9 Proof - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2022 Release 126.9 Proof
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    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 18 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon [#9, 1 of 28] - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky
    Brown Forman King of Kentucky 18 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon [#9, 1 of 28]
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    Description

    King of Kentucky is a single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon program produced by Brown-Forman, releasing cask-strength expressions drawn from barrels aged between 14 and 17 years. The whiskey is made in Kentucky, where the continental climate - marked by hot summers and cold winters - drives the cyclical expansion and contraction of spirit into charred American white oak, concentrating flavor and deepening color over extended maturation. Each release is bottled from an individual barrel at natural proof, with recorded figures ranging from 126.9 to 134.5 proof across the 2020 through 2024 releases. Annual releases are numbered and strictly limited, with individual barrels yielding as few as 99 bottles. The result is a series of age-dated, high-proof bourbons where vintage, barrel number, and proof vary from release to release, making each bottling a distinct and documentable expression of the program.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is King of Kentucky, and why is it so hard to find?

    King of Kentucky is Brown-Forman's ultra-premium single barrel bourbon, a revival of a label dating back to 1881. Each annual release is barrel proof, minimally filtered, and hand-bottled, with every bottle numbered and detailing its barrel, warehouse, and proof. With only a few thousand bottles produced each year and demand from serious collectors worldwide, it rarely appears at retail.

    How old is King of Kentucky bourbon?

    The age has climbed steadily since the 2018 revival: early releases carried 14-year age statements, and recent years have reached 15, 16, and now 17 years. That's exceptional for Kentucky bourbon aged in Brown-Forman's heat-cycled warehouses, where evaporation takes a heavy toll on older barrels, which is exactly why yields are so small and bottles so scarce.

    Why do bottles from the same King of Kentucky release taste different?

    Because every bottle comes from a single barrel, and no two barrels age identically. Warehouse floor, temperature exposure, and stave variation mean proofs within one release can span ten points or more. Each label states the barrel number, warehouse location, proof, and yield, so collectors can compare barrels or build a vertical of genuinely distinct whiskeys.

    Is King of Kentucky worth the price?

    At retail it sells out instantly, and on the open market it commands four figures because supply is tiny and the whiskey itself is superb: deep caramel, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and rich oak at full barrel strength. For collectors it sits alongside BTAC and Pappy as a top-tier American whiskey, with values that have risen consistently since the 2018 revival.

    How should I drink a bourbon this high in proof?

    King of Kentucky typically lands between 125 and 135 proof, so approach it slowly. Pour a small measure neat, nose it gently, then add a few drops of water to open the aromatics and tame the heat. The whiskey is remarkably rich and viscous for its strength, and a single pour rewards a long evening rather than a quick dram.