Brown-Forman Distillery, Inc. has been proud to reintroduce its signature King of Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon in its Fall 2026 release, marking its comeback after the successful launch of the maiden Small Batch series earlier in the year. This season's edition has harnessed 99 barrels of the 14-year-old brew, leading to an impressive concoction with proofs ranging from 125 to 135. While this count indeed surpasses the number of barrels released last year by the company, finding a bottle might still pose a challenge. For reference, the previous edition – an exquisite blend of 17-year-old bourbon from 63 barrels – could only produce close to 5,000 bottles. Sourced from two batches of 14-year-old single barrels, 51 of the total originate from Warehouse I's third floor with the remaining 48 coming from Warehouse L's ground level. Whiskey connoisseurs might recognize Warehouse I as the centerpiece in an Old Forester 117 series from late 2024. These bourbons matured in heat-cycled warehouses in Kentucky under Brown-Forman's watch, before being bottled at cask strength without undergoing chill filtering. The mash bill is a blend of 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley, a notable departure from the initial King of Kentucky Small Batch range's mash bill. In an official press statement, Caleb Trigo, Brown-Forman’s assistant master distiller stated, "This year’s King of Kentucky is a remarkable expression of what time, careful maturation and thoughtful barrel selection can create. Each of these 99 barrels was selected for its exceptional character, delivering the bold, complex profile defining King of Kentucky after a 14-year aging process.” As it's a single-barrel release, each bottle features unique tasting notes. However, hints of orange zest, caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted marshmallow form part of the aromatic depth. The palate notes are of dark maple syrup, vanilla wafers, and a touch of baked banana, while the finish is described as long, sweet, and strongly hints of chocolate. Available come fall, the King of Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon is priced at $399, though price markups are quite common with premium bourbons. In a change from previous releases, the bourbon will be packaged in 700-milliliter bottles and each bottle comes with detailed information on the label, including its proof, warehouse, lot number, and barrel number. Brown-Forman, the maker of brewing heavyweights like Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Jack Daniel’s, and others, acquired the brand in 1936, after the Prohibition years. King of Kentucky had a strong 30-year run as a blended whiskey before it was shelved during the late 60s. Brown-Forman resurrected the legendary name in 2018, repurposing King of Kentucky as a premium cask-strength single-barrel bourbon line. Their barrel selections range from 14 to 19 years old, and all are matured in their heat-cycled brick warehouses. The legendary master distiller Chris Morris oversees the tasting and approval process for each batch. Initially released only in Kentucky, the brew has become a highly coveted expression among bourbon connoisseurs, leading to expansions in other markets albeit in limited quantities. Now, the latest release of 99 barrels chosen for this Fall's release just confirms the continuation of this superior single-barrel program.