{"product_id":"king-of-kentucky-small-batch-2026-batch-2","title":"King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3)","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e\n.mw-master-container{\n  --mw-accent: #cbc4a7;   \/* metallic foil  *\/\n  --mw-glow:   #9a1406;   \/* power color    *\/\n  --mw-bg:     #442b2c;   \/* deep lowlight  *\/\n  --mw-text:#e0e0e0; --mw-muted:#b8b8b8; --mw-hair:#222;\n  font-family: inherit; background:var(--mw-bg); color:var(--mw-text);\n  line-height:1.7; padding:24px; margin-bottom:60px;\n}\n\/* scoped resets: neutralize theme heading styles inside the block *\/\n.mw-master-container h2, .mw-master-container h3{\n  margin:0; padding:0; font-family:inherit; line-height:inherit; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-h3{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase;\n  font-size:0.9rem; letter-spacing:2px; margin-top:40px; display:block;\n  border-bottom:1px solid var(--mw-glow); padding-bottom:8px; margin-bottom:20px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-accent{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-accent:hover{ color:#fff; text-decoration:underline; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-info-box{ background:linear-gradient(90deg, var(--mw-bg) 0%, var(--mw-glow) 100%);\n  padding:25px; margin:25px 0; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0; border:1px solid var(--mw-hair);\n  border-left:4px solid var(--mw-accent); }\n.mw-master-container .mw-list{ margin:0; padding-left:20px; font-size:0.95rem; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-grid{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr; gap:30px; margin:30px 0; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-card{ background:rgba(255,255,255,0.02); padding:25px;\n  border:1px solid var(--mw-glow); border-radius:4px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-card-label{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; font-size:0.75rem;\n  text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-card-body{ margin-top:20px; font-size:0.9rem; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-card-body p + p{ margin-top:10px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-table{ width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:15px; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-table td{ padding:14px 0; border-bottom:1px solid var(--mw-hair);\n  color:#ccc; font-size:0.95rem; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-table td:first-child{ font-weight:bold; width:38%; color:var(--mw-accent);\n  text-transform:uppercase; font-size:0.75rem; letter-spacing:1px; }\n.mw-master-container details{ background:rgba(255,255,255,0.03); border:1px solid var(--mw-hair);\n  border-radius:4px; margin-bottom:15px; }\n.mw-master-container summary{ padding:18px; color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; cursor:pointer;\n  outline:none; list-style:none; display:flex; justify-content:space-between; align-items:center;\n  text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px; font-size:0.85rem; }\n.mw-master-container summary::after{ content:'+'; font-size:1.2rem; }\n.mw-master-container details[open]{ border:1px solid var(--mw-accent); }\n.mw-master-container details[open] summary::after{ content:'-'; }\n.mw-master-container .details-content{ padding:0 20px 20px 20px; font-size:0.95rem; }\n.mw-master-container .mw-q{ font-size:0.95rem; font-weight:bold; color:var(--mw-text); margin-top:14px; }\n.mw-master-container .details-content .mw-q:first-child{ margin-top:0; }\n@media (max-width:768px){ .mw-master-container .mw-grid{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-master-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"speakable\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKing 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eThe Elemental Distinction\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-info-box\"\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"mw-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe middle step of the 2026 series at 107.5 proof (53.75% ABV), between the 105-proof and 110-proof bottlings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKentucky straight bourbon with a 12-year age statement; the blend spans barrels aged 12 to 18 years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrown-Forman published its own tasting notes batch by batch, and Batch 2 is where the dark-fruit character reads clearest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMade at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, DSP-KY-354; non-chill filtered; 700 mL.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePart of the collection Brown-Forman issued for the 250th anniversary of the United States and of Kentucky County, Virginia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-card\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mw-card-label\"\u003eSensory Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-card-body speakable\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dates and fig over caramel, with charred oak sitting behind them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e A mint edge, vanilla underneath it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Longer than Batch 1, and crisp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-card\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mw-card-label\"\u003eStrategic Position\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-card-body\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMiddle 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 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/midnightwhiskey.com\/collections\/whiskey\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003eour mature bourbon archive at Midnight Whiskey\u003c\/a\u003e between \u003ca href=\"about:srcdoc\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003ethe 105-proof opening batch\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/king-of-kentucky-small-batch-2026-batch-3\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003ethe 110-proof batch above it\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mw-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClass\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBatch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBatch 2 of 3, 2026 Small Batch collection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProof\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e107.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eABV\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e53.75%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAge statement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 years on the label; the blend is drawn from barrels aged 12 to 18 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMash bill\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e[verify] — 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley is reported at Tier-2 only; Brown-Forman’s release states no recipe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFiltration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNon-chill filtered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKentucky\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistillery\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrown-Forman Distillery, Shively, Kentucky\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegulatory ID\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDSP-KY-354\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProducer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrown-Forman Distillers Co., Louisville, Kentucky\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e700 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnnounced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 February 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eCollector Note\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"mw-h3\"\u003eRecommended Serving\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e107.5 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eProduction Methodology\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"details-content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eAuthentication \u0026amp; Vault Preservation\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"details-content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery bottle sold through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/admin.shopify.com\/store\/t6jnet-ht9\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003eMidnight Whiskey\u003c\/a\u003e 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 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/midnightwhiskey.com\/pages\/authentication-standards\" class=\"mw-accent\"\u003eour editorial and authentication standards\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"details-content\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mw-q\"\u003eWhat proof is King of Kentucky Small Batch Batch 2?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBatch 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mw-q\"\u003eHow do the three King of Kentucky Small Batch batches differ?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrown-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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mw-q\"\u003eWhere is King of Kentucky Small Batch distilled?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrown-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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- COMPONENT 4 — AI-COMPATIBILITY LAYER (JSON-LD) --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brown-Forman Distillery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46147770744866,"sku":"082184009239","price":499.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0812\/5566\/1602\/files\/KOK12B2F.jpg?v=1785614116","url":"https:\/\/midnightwhiskey.com\/products\/king-of-kentucky-small-batch-2026-batch-2","provider":"Midnight Whiskey ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}