BROWN-FORMAN'S KING OF KENTUCKY 12YR 2026 RELEASE SMALL BATCH 1 OF 3 105 PROOF

Brown-Forman's Shively, Kentucky distillery (DSP-KY-354) has steam-heated its rickhouses to 85–90°F since the 1870s, forcing bourbon deeper into charred American white oak at a rate Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris estimates adds half a year of maturation per year aged. This 2026 Small Batch release blends roughly 100 barrels aged 12–18 years, non-chill filtered and proofed to 105 with Kentucky limestone water. Batch 1 is the "baseline" of the trio — chocolate, caramel, toasted marshmallow, and vanilla custard, finishing silky with candied orange and dark chocolate. 94 points, Whisky Advocate.