King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3)
Price
Regular price $499.95
Regular price Sale price $499.95
/
  • ✔ Vault-Verified & Authenticated
  • ✔ 21+ Adult Signature on Delivery
  • ✔ Insured Shipping in Climate-Safe Packaging
  • ✔ Sourced Direct or via Vetted Partners
  • Returns & Authentication Policy
Age: 12 Years (Blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years) | Region: Kentucky, United States | Proof: 110.0
  • Secure payments
  • Vault Insured Shipping
  • 21+ Adult Signature Required
Shipping calculated at checkout.

King of Kentucky Small Batch Batch 3 is the highest-strength bottling of Brown-Forman’s three-batch 2026 series at 110 proof (55% ABV), a Kentucky straight bourbon carrying a 12-year age statement and blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years. Brown-Forman describes it as the longest and most oak-forward of the three. It is non-chill filtered, bottled in 700 mL, and made at the Shively, Kentucky distillery under DSP-KY-354.

The Elemental Distinction

  • Highest strength in the 2026 series at 110 proof (55% ABV), above the 105-proof and 107.5-proof bottlings.
  • Kentucky straight bourbon with a 12-year age statement, blended from barrels aged 12 to 18 years.
  • Brown-Forman gives this batch the longest and most oak-forward finish of the three.
  • Bottled at a set proof, not at barrel strength — the distinction from the annual King of Kentucky Single Barrel release.
  • Non-chill filtered, 700 mL, made at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, DSP-KY-354.

Sensory Profile

Nose: Chocolate and brown sugar, lifted by citrus and pine.

Palate: Oak forward, spice behind it.

Finish: The longest of the three, and the most oak-driven.

Strategic Position

Batch 3 is where the experiment pays off: five proof points above Batch 1, the same 12-to-18-year stock behind it, and a finish Brown-Forman itself calls the longest of the set. Buyers who want one bottle from the series usually want this one. It anchors the barrel-archive bourbons at Midnight Whiskey, with the 107.5-proof batch below it for anyone building the ladder in order.

Technical Specifications

Class Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch Batch 3 of 3, 2026 Small Batch collection
Proof 110
ABV 55%
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 3 is the top-of-ladder bottle: without the 105-proof reading from the entry-level Batch 1, the climb to 110 proof 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

This is the batch water was made for. Taste it neat first so the oak and the citrus register at full strength, then add water a few drops at a time — at 110 proof the change is far larger than it is at 105, which is precisely what Brown-Forman built the series to demonstrate. Give it a long glass and no ice; chilling shortens the finish that makes this bottling the one people remember.

Production Methodology

The three 2026 bottlings differ by bottling strength, and Batch 3 is where Brown-Forman stopped: 110 proof, five points above the opening batch and the ceiling of the set. Bottling strength is a decision made after maturation rather than during it, which is why the same 12-to-18-year stock reads so differently across the series — less water leaves more of the oak extraction and the heavier aromatics intact, and Brown-Forman assigned this batch the longest finish of the three on that basis. Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris held the barrels behind the collection back for years before releasing them. The whiskey was made at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, DSP-KY-354, and bottled 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 3?

Batch 3 of the 2026 King of Kentucky Small Batch collection is bottled at 110 proof, or 55% ABV, the highest of the three batches. Batch 1 is 105 proof and Batch 2 is 107.5 proof. Brown-Forman describes Batch 3 as having the longest and most oak-forward finish of the set.

Why did Brown-Forman release King of Kentucky Small Batch in 2026?

Brown-Forman released the King of Kentucky Small Batch collection to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and of the creation of Kentucky County, Virginia, which later became the state of Kentucky. Brown-Forman announced it on 4 February 2026. It is the first three-batch series King of Kentucky has released, and the brand's annual Single Barrel expression continues separately each fall.

Is King of Kentucky Small Batch bottled at barrel strength?

No. Brown-Forman bottled the three 2026 King of Kentucky Small Batch releases at set proofs of 105, 107.5 and 110 rather than at each blend's natural barrel strength. King of Kentucky Single Barrel, the brand's annual fall release, is the barrel-strength expression. Some retailer listings describe the Small Batch bottles as barrel strength; Brown-Forman's own release does not.
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.
Ask a question

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Curated For You

Opus One 2022 — Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend, Mondavi-Rothschild Joint Venture Opus One Winery $429.95
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon Set of 3 (2026 Release - Batches 1–3) Brown-Forman Distillery $1,299.95
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 3 of 3) Brown-Forman Distillery $499.95
King of Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (2026 Release - Batch 2 of 3) Brown-Forman Distillery $499.95
More from Brown-Forman Distillery
Recently viewed