Huge baking spices | Heavy charred oak | Cola | Cinnamon cake | Leather | Faint bootstrap molasses | Light powdered sugar | Spiced dark caramel

Black peppercorn | Rye spice | Spicy cinnamon syrup | Brown sugar | Cinnamon donut | Light spiced caramel

Dry aged oak | Leather | Barrel char | Red Hots candy | Pleasant rye spice | Caramelized brown sugar | Lingering dry oak & heat

King of Kentucky has cemented itself as one of the most consistent, great tasting bourbons year after year ever since Brown-Forman began releasing it in 2018. The 2026 version marks the ninth edition for the brand, and for the first time in years, the brand holds its price, coming in at the same $400 as the 2025 release. While the price held, the bottle decreased in size to 700mL, and the age of the bourbon also dropped. The brand had steadily been raising the age, up to 17 years for last year’s release; however, this year’s edition drops down to a 14 year age statement, which was more common for earlier releases, and last seen with the 2021 release.

While the company surprised many by coming out with a Small Batch version earlier in the year, consumers held out hope that the brand would continue its high proof single barrel releases. Brown-Forman answered that call, and states that “this year's release is drawn from two 14-year-old lots totaling 99 barrels, with proofs ranging from 125 to 135. Of the 99 barrels selected, 51 matured on the third floor of Warehouse I and 48 matured on the first floor of Warehouse L at the Brown-Forman Distillery.” The bourbon in review is from the Warehouse I lot.

King of Kentucky releases have never been shy about being bold and flavorful, and the 2026 edition is no exception. The bourbon delivers a rich aroma full of huge baking spices, heavy charred oak, and a distinct cola note that is as intriguing as it is pleasing. Various sweet scents join in and morph into a half spice, half sweet midpoint, with spicy cinnamon syrup bridging the transition between the two worlds. The whiskey then moves into spice and dryness to round things out, with dry aged oak, Red Hots candy, and pleasant rye spice taking the lead before an incredibly pleasing, long-lasting dry oak and heat note sets in.

While no bottle count was provided, the assumption is that there should be plenty of bottles to get your hands on when compared to the scant first release in 2018. While the price has stayed the same, the smaller bottle size effectively increases the cost per ounce for consumers. Thanks to the dearth of recent highly regarded releases in 2026, It’s hard to justify a high priced bourbon, especially one priced at $400. That said, this year’s edition of King of Kentucky represents one of the best barrel proof, single barrel bourbons consumers can purchase. For those lucky enough to get their hands on a bottle, this is the definition of a bourbon that deserves to be opened and enjoyed rather than collecting dust on a shelf and never being appreciated. As it is a single barrel, take note that flavor profile and overall quality will vary slightly from barrel to barrel.