King of Kentucky Small Batch 1 Bourbon | Midnight Whiskey

Name: King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 1 of 3)
Brand: Brown-Forman Distillery
SKU: 082184009222
Price: 499.95 USD
Availability: InStock

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Age: 12 Years (Blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years) | Region: Kentucky, United States | Proof: 105.0

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King of Kentucky Small Batch Batch 1 is the 105-proof opening bottling of Brown-Forman’s three-batch 2026 series, a Kentucky straight bourbon carrying a 12-year age statement and blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. Brown-Forman bottled it non-chill filtered in 700 mL and announced the collection on 4 February 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The Elemental Distinction

Lowest of the three 2026 bottlings at 105 proof (52.5% ABV); the series steps 105, 107.5, 110.
Kentucky straight bourbon with a 12-year age statement, blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years.
Brown-Forman reports that some barrels in the blend held just 16 percent of their original liquid after years of evaporation.
Distilled and bottled by Brown-Forman Distillers Co. at the Shively distillery, DSP-KY-354; non-chill filtered, 700 mL.
The first three-batch series King of Kentucky has released. Brown-Forman has owned the brand since 1936 and revived it in 2018.

Sensory Profile

Nose: Chocolate, caramel and toasted marshmallow, set against dried apricot and clove.

Palate: Oak without edges, carrying toasted coconut.

Finish: Silky, and the shortest of the three batches.

Strategic Position

At 105 proof Batch 1 sits at the bottom of the 2026 ladder, which makes it the reading the other two are measured against rather than simply the mildest of them — Brown-Forman separated the three bottlings by strength in order to show what proof does to mature bourbon. It joins the long-aged Kentucky bourbon shelf at Midnight Whiskey next to the 107.5-proof second batch.

Technical Specifications

Class	Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch	Batch 1 of 3, 2026 Small Batch collection
Proof	105
ABV	52.5%
Age statement	12 years on the label; the blend is drawn from barrels aged 12 to 18 years
Mash bill	[verify] — 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley is reported at Tier-2 only; Brown-Forman’s release states no recipe
Filtration	Non-chill filtered
Region	Kentucky
Distillery	Brown-Forman Distillery, Shively, Kentucky
Regulatory ID	DSP-KY-354
Producer	Brown-Forman Distillers Co., Louisville, Kentucky
Format	700 mL
Announced	4 February 2026

Collector Note

Brown-Forman set a suggested retail price of $299 across the series and shipped it in limited quantities to select markets, so the collecting question is whether to chase one batch or the set. Batch 1 is what makes the set legible: without the 105-proof reading, the climb to the 110-proof batch at the top is a number rather than a comparison. It is also a first — no three-batch series has carried the King of Kentucky name before.

Recommended Serving

At 105 proof this is the batch that asks least of you. Pour it neat and give it several minutes; the toasted coconut and the drier oak take a while to separate. If you are tasting all three in one sitting, open this one first and set your baseline before the strength climbs — going the other direction flattens it.

Production Methodology

King of Kentucky is built from barrels Brown-Forman held back rather than bottled, and the 2026 blend reaches across a six-year band, from 12 years old to 18. Long maturation in Kentucky rickhouses costs volume as well as time: Brown-Forman reports that some barrels feeding this release held only 16 percent of their original liquid by the time they were emptied. Batching is what makes whiskey at that stage into a release at all — a cask down to 16 percent of its fill yields very few bottles on its own, while many of them together yield a run. The whiskey was made at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, registered as DSP-KY-354, and bottled without chill filtration so nothing was stripped on the way into the glass.

Authentication & Vault Preservation

Every bottle sold through Midnight Whiskey is sourced as an authentic, sealed product and inspected before it ships. Orders are packed with padded, glass-rated handling and require an adult signature (21+) on delivery; we do not ship to anyone unable to verify legal drinking age. For our full sourcing and handling protocols, see our editorial and authentication standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is King of Kentucky Small Batch Batch 1?

Batch 1 of the 2026 King of Kentucky Small Batch collection is bottled at 105 proof, or 52.5% ABV, the lowest of the three batches Brown-Forman released. Batch 2 is 107.5 proof and Batch 3 is 110 proof. All three are Kentucky straight bourbon, non-chill filtered, in 700 mL bottles.

How old is King of Kentucky Small Batch?

The King of Kentucky Small Batch bottles carry a 12-year age statement, and Brown-Forman states that each blend is drawn from barrels aged 12 to 18 years. A US age statement names the youngest whiskey in the bottle, so 12 years is a floor rather than an average for this release. Brown-Forman announced the collection on 4 February 2026.

What is the difference between King of Kentucky Small Batch and King of Kentucky Single Barrel?

King of Kentucky Small Batch is a 2026 collection of three batches, each blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years and bottled at 105, 107.5 or 110 proof. King of Kentucky Single Barrel is the brand's long-running release, drawn from one barrel at a time, and Brown-Forman has said it continues annually each fall. The Small Batch series sits alongside it rather than replacing it.

Shipping information

Adult Signature Required: Federal law requires an adult (21+) with a valid government ID to sign for all deliveries. Carriers cannot leave alcohol unattended.

Processing Time: Most orders process within 1–8 business days. You will receive a tracking number via email as soon as your bottle ships.

Insured Shipping: We strongly recommend electing Shipping Protection at checkout. Midnight Whiskey is not liable for loss or damage once in the carrier's possession unless insurance is purchased.

Restrictions: We ship only within the permitted U.S. states and cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes or U.S. Territories.

All Sales Final: Due to alcohol regulations, we cannot accept returns for change of mind.

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