Brown-Forman Distillers Co. in Louisville, Kentucky have announced the sixth edition release of King of Kentucky, a super-premium straight bourbon
The 2023 expression is a 16-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon distilled on July 19, 2007. It features a mashbill of 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley. The thirsty Angels to nearly 65% of what was put in these barrels leaving a mere 35% for bottling. The proof at bottling varies between 125° and 135°. A mere 3,800 bottles are expected to be produced for this bottling.
King of Kentucky was established in 1881 as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Brown-Forman acquired the brand in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers and, by 1940, converted it to a blended whiskey until it was discontinued in 1968. In 2018, Brown-Forman revived the label paying homage to the brand’s past.
“We are excited to celebrate the sixth year of the King of Kentucky brand with an extremely robust selection of 16-year-old barrels,” said Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris. “This brand demonstrates Brown-Forman’s commitment to and expertise in the growing American Whiskey category.”
King of Kentucky is an annual release of a single barrel inventory featuring a barrel-strength, minimally-filtered proof presentation, with each release and every barrel being unique. For this year’s iteration, Master Distiller Chris Morris chose a single lot of barrels to set aside for the limited-release product from 2007.
2023 King of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes
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“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,” said Morris. “This showcases what a difference each individual barrel has at this extreme age on the color, flavor, and aroma of this wonderful whiskey.”
Proof: 125.8° (62.9% ABV)
Age: 16-years
Aroma: Dark graham cracker, vanilla and charred oak notes sweetened with hints of port, cognac, and milk chocolate coated coconut.
Flavor: Dark chocolate mocha with traces of black tea and leathery tannins.
Due to the rarity of these barrels, there is no defined annual volume. Just like the extra time it takes for the liquid to mature, King of Kentucky’s package shows a personal craftsmanship. Every bottle comes enclosed in a decorative canister, and tells the story of its origin through the details on the front and back of its package. All are filled, bottled, wax-dipped, and numbered by hand with details including proof, age, warehouse location, lot number, serial number, and barrel number, all selected by Master Distiller Chris Morris.
Brown-Forman Distillers Co. 2023 release of King of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will be hitting retail shelves mid- October with a suggested retail of $299.99. While the majority of this year’s volume will remain in Kentucky, the expression will also be available in limited quantities in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Metro New York, Ohio, and Tennessee.
For more than 150 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Ready-to-Drinks, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Coopers’ Craft, The GlenDronach, Benriach, Glenglassaugh, Slane, Herradura, el Jimador, New Mix, Korbel, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Fords Gin, Gin Mare, and Diplomático Rum. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by approximately 5,600 employees globally and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide.
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