King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)
Price
Regular price $499.95
Regular price Sale price $499.95
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Age: 12 Years (Blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years) | Region: Kentucky, United States | Proof: 107.5
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King of Kentucky Small Batch Batch 2 is the middle bottling of Brown-Forman’s three-batch 2026 series, a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 107.5 proof (53.75% ABV) and blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years. Brown-Forman made it at its Shively, Kentucky distillery under DSP-KY-354, bottled it non-chill filtered in 700 mL, and published separate tasting notes for each of the three batches.

The Elemental Distinction

  • The middle step of the 2026 series at 107.5 proof (53.75% ABV), between the 105-proof and 110-proof bottlings.
  • Kentucky straight bourbon with a 12-year age statement; the blend spans barrels aged 12 to 18 years.
  • Brown-Forman published its own tasting notes batch by batch, and Batch 2 is where the dark-fruit character reads clearest.
  • Made at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, DSP-KY-354; non-chill filtered; 700 mL.
  • Part of the collection Brown-Forman issued for the 250th anniversary of the United States and of Kentucky County, Virginia.

Sensory Profile

Nose: Dates and fig over caramel, with charred oak sitting behind them.

Palate: A mint edge, vanilla underneath it.

Finish: Longer than Batch 1, and crisp.

Strategic Position

Middle bottles in a graduated set usually get skipped, and Batch 2 is the argument against that habit: two and a half points of proof separate it from Batch 1 and it reads as a different whiskey, which is the whole point Brown-Forman was making. It sits in our mature bourbon archive at Midnight Whiskey between the 105-proof opening batch and the 110-proof batch above it.

Technical Specifications

Class Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch Batch 2 of 3, 2026 Small Batch collection
Proof 107.5
ABV 53.75%
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

All three batches carry the same $299 suggested price and the same allocation problem: Brown-Forman released them in limited quantities to select markets, and the middle number is usually the one still on the shelf when the other two have gone. For a vertical that is useful rather than decorative, Batch 2 is the load-bearing bottle — the step between 105 and 110 only exists if you have the reading in the middle.

Recommended Serving

107.5 proof still drinks comfortably neat, and the mint note Brown-Forman describes is the first thing to go if the pour is too cold, so let the glass come up to room temperature before judging it. A few drops of water push the dates and fig forward; more than that and the charred-oak edge that distinguishes this batch recedes.

Production Methodology

Small batch here means something narrower than the phrase usually does. Brown-Forman built the 2026 release by blending mature barrels rather than by bottling them one at a time, which is the reverse of the approach that made the brand’s modern reputation — King of Kentucky returned in 2018 as a single-barrel whiskey and stayed that way. Blending across a 12-to-18-year band lets the distillery even out what individual casks at that age do unevenly, and it is what allowed three separate bottlings out of one release rather than a handful of single casks. Production ran at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, DSP-KY-354, and the whiskey went into the bottle without chill filtration.

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 2?

Batch 2 of the 2026 King of Kentucky Small Batch collection is bottled at 107.5 proof, or 53.75% ABV, placing it between Batch 1 at 105 proof and Batch 3 at 110 proof. It is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, non-chill filtered, bottled in 700 mL by Brown-Forman.

How do the three King of Kentucky Small Batch batches differ?

Brown-Forman bottled the 2026 King of Kentucky Small Batch collection at three proofs: Batch 1 at 105, Batch 2 at 107.5 and Batch 3 at 110. Each batch is a blend of barrels aged 12 to 18 years, and Brown-Forman published separate tasting notes for each one, describing Batch 1 as the shortest finishing and Batch 3 as the longest and most oak-forward.

Where is King of Kentucky Small Batch distilled?

Brown-Forman made the 2026 King of Kentucky Small Batch collection at its distillery in Shively, Kentucky, registered as DSP-KY-354. The bottles are labelled as distilled and bottled by Brown-Forman Distillers Co. of Louisville, Kentucky. Brown-Forman has owned the King of Kentucky brand since 1936 and revived it in 2018.

 
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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