The 2026 King of Kentucky is a 14-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at full barrel proof and non-chill filtered, released by Brown-Forman as just 99 individually selected single barrels.
Brown-Forman first used the King of Kentucky name in 1881 and brought it back in 2018 as an ultra-premium annual single-barrel release. Each year's allocation is small, each barrel is bottled on its own rather than batched, and every bottle carries its own barrel number, bottle number and proof — which is why collectors track King of Kentucky by individual barrel rather than by vintage alone.
The 2026 release steps down to a 14-year age statement from the 16-year bottlings of recent years, and arrives in a 700ml bottle. Its 99 barrels were pulled from two aging positions: 51 from Warehouse I, Floor 3 and 48 from Warehouse L, Floor 1. Those two environments age differently, so proof and intensity vary meaningfully from barrel to barrel across the release — the stated range is roughly 125 to 135 proof.
Tasting Notes
Notes published for the 2026 release as a whole. Because every bottle comes from a single barrel, the specific bottle you receive will vary.
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Nose: Orange zest, rich caramel, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow and nutty oak.
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Palate: Dark maple syrup and vanilla wafer, with bright orange zest and baked banana over concentrated sweetness and mature oak.
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Finish: Long, with caramel, chocolate and mature oak carrying through.
Specs
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Producer: Brown-Forman Distillers Co., Louisville, Kentucky
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Brand: King of Kentucky
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Release Year: 2026
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Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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Age Statement: 14 Years
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Bottling: Single barrel, barrel proof, non-chill filtered
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Proof Range: Approximately 125–135 proof (62.5–67.5% ABV)
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Total Release: 99 barrels — 51 from Warehouse I, Floor 3; 48 from Warehouse L, Floor 1
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Bottle Size: 700ml
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Packaging: Wax-dipped closure, hand-numbered, custom canister
Browse every year we carry in the King of Kentucky collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is the 2026 King of Kentucky?
It is bottled at barrel proof, so proof is set by the individual barrel rather than by the release. Across the 99 barrels the range runs roughly 125 to 135 proof. The exact figure is printed on each bottle — contact us for the proof and barrel number of the specific bottle being shipped.
How many bottles of the 2026 release were made?
Brown-Forman selected 99 barrels for 2026: 51 from Warehouse I, Floor 3 and 48 from Warehouse L, Floor 1. Each barrel is bottled separately, so the total bottle count depends on how much whiskey each barrel still held after fourteen years.
How does the 2026 release differ from earlier King of Kentucky years?
The 2026 bottling carries a 14-year age statement, down from the 16-year statement used on the 2023 and 2024 releases, and it is packaged in a 700ml bottle. Barrel proof, single-barrel bottling and the wax-dipped canister presentation stay the same.
