Brown-Forman’s Resurrected King of Kentucky Brand Returns With 2024’s Annual Coveted Bourbon Release

Brown-Forman’s highly coveted King of Kentucky Bourbon is returning to shelves on Wednesday, and this year’s expression clocks in at 130 proof.

With a suggested retail price of $349.99, just 5,100 bottles are available of the 16-year-old bourbon, and residents of Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Metro New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas can purchase the bourbon in limited quantities.

This year’s barrels for King of Kentucky were selected by Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris, who chose two lots of 63 barrels to be set aside for the product. The barrels came from July 19, 2007, and November 15, 2007, according to Morris.

“All the barrels were aged in Warehouses G and J at the Brown-Forman Distillery,” Morris said in a news release. “This showcases what a difference production dates and warehousing can have on barrels hand-crafted in the same year. Plus, the impact that each individual barrel has this extreme age on the color, flavor and aroma of this wonderful whiskey.”

Brown-Forman shared that each bottle is housed in decorative packaging that reveals the brand’s origin story. Each bottle is wax-dipped and numbered with proof, age, lot number, serial number and the location of the warehouse it was matured in.

King of Kentucky has roots that date back to 1881. Brown-Forman purchased the brand in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers. In 1940 it became a blended whiskey and was discontinued 28 years later.

Brown-Forman unveiled the 2023 expression of King of Kentucky, which was selected from a 51-barrel lot. The bourbon was exceedingly well-received by critics, and if you want to know what their thoughts were, you can check out its Raided Score® here.

“Reputation alone justifies King of Kentucky’s status as one of the most sought-after Kentucky Straight Bourbons on the market,” Morris said. “But reputations must not only be earned but defended – and this year’s release is sure to please the palate of every Bourbon aficionado.”

King of Kentucky Tasting Notes, Via the Brand

Nose: Rich scents of vanilla bean, candied fruit, malt and chocolate-covered coconut.

Taste: Malt, rich vanilla and spicy wood interlaced with dark chocolate.

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