Brown Foreman’s Mythical King of Kentucky
A Young Diana Ross and 2021 King of Kentucky
We’ve been asking retailers for two years about this release, mythical is the only description that fits. King of Kentucky is annually release ofthe very best single barrels that Brown-Forman offers.
14yr old, cask strength, non chill filtered. When you get to this final level of bourbon unicorns you start noticing similarities in the releases. At this point, outside of Michter’s 25 or Old Rip Van Winkle 25 we have touched them all..and these ultra aged whiskeys have traits in common.
Where KOK leaves pours like George T. Stagg and Parkers Heritage (10) behind is this ability to offer different aspects of the best bourbon you’ve ever had with each sip.
Honestly it’s the type of experience we were hoping to have with Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend. An amazing black cherry compote greets you after that classic bouquet of aged, sweet oak invades the senses. There’s a crazy dark brown sugar and rich burnt orange alternating thing that happens with each sip here.
Afro.Beer.Chick at The Prince Wall on New Years Eve 2021
Bottled and Distilled in Louisville, KY
Only 2700 bottles were released last year. King of Kentucky is a legacy brand from the crew behind Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and the top selling whiskey in the world, Jack Daniels. Its Woodford’s Master Distiller Chris Morris who selects the single barrels to be showcased for KOK.
Retail is $250, and worth every bit of that but not the $1200 you see it for on secondary.
There’s no defined bottle number for the annual release, but the barrels selected were all filled 12 days apart back in 2007. Mashbill is 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley and spent 14 years aging in in a heat cycled warehouse.
1953 KOK Vintage
During last year’s Louisville trip we had the privilege of enjoying at 1953 King of Kentucky at the Frankfort Liquor’s opening weekend. Brown-Foreman acquired the brand in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers. KOK was produced as a blended whiskey until 1968 when it was discontinued.
The single barrel behemoth we enjoy today made its debuted in 2018.
—The Neat Pour
250$ Retail