King of Kentucky Releases 14-Year Single Barrel 2026

Brown-Forman Selects 99 Barrels for Limited US Release

Brown-Forman has announced the launch of its latest King of Kentucky Single Barrel – 2026 Edition whiskey. Aged for 14 years, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey continues the brand's tradition of high-proof single barrel releases, offered in limited quantities across the US market.

The 2026 Edition features just 99 single barrels, with proof varying between 62.5% and 67.5% ABV. All barrels matured at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Kentucky, with 51 barrels aged on the third floor of Warehouse I and 48 barrels on the first floor of Warehouse L. Each bottle is hand-filled, wax-dipped, numbered, and packaged in a bespoke canister. The bottle label provides detailed information including proof, age statement, warehouse location, batch number, serial number, and barrel number.

Flavor Profile & Barrel Craftsmanship

On the nose, this 14-year bourbon delivers vibrant fruitiness combined with citrus peel, rich caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted marshmallow, underpinned by balanced nutty oak. The palate features a dark maple syrup texture coating layers of citrus peel and vanilla wafer, leading to a lingering finish with hints of toasted banana.

Brown-Forman Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo stated that this year's King of Kentucky embodies the culmination of time, careful aging, and meticulous barrel selection. Each of the 99 barrels was selected for its distinct character, yielding the intense and complex flavors that define the brand after 14 years of maturation.

Brand Heritage & Revival

Established in 1881, King of Kentucky was acquired by Brown-Forman from Selected Kentucky Distillers in 1936 and discontinued in 1968. In 2018, Brown-Forman revived this legacy label as an ongoing cask-strength single barrel program to honor its rich heritage.

📅 Release Date: 2026-10-05

🔗 Source: The Whisky Wire