King of Kentucky 12 Year Old Small Batch, Batch 2 of 3, is the middle release in Brown-Forman's landmark small batch collection, the first King of Kentucky small batch in more than 90 years. The brand is one of the most storied and coveted names in American whiskey, founded in 1881 by distiller and horse racing enthusiast John Roach, who named it for the sport of kings. Brown-Forman acquired it in 1936, and after decades of dormancy revived it in 2018 as an ultra allocated limited release drawn from the very best of the distillery's aging stocks. Until this series every modern King of Kentucky had been a single barrel, which makes this small batch collection a genuinely historic shift. Batch 2 is built from a curated blend of roughly 100 hand selected barrels aged between 12 and 18 years across multiple heat cycled Brown-Forman rickhouses, all originally earmarked as single barrel candidates before being set aside to develop even greater depth. Aging in those extreme warehouses is brutal, with some barrels retaining as little as 16 percent of their original volume, concentrating every drop. The mash bill is a departure from Brown-Forman's usual recipe, at 75 percent corn, 15 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley. Sitting between Batch 1 and Batch 3 in the series, Batch 2 is bottled without chill filtration at 107.5 proof, a step up in strength and intensity. It pours a deep amber and leans into dark fruit, with notes of dates and fig layered over caramel and charred oak, brightened by mint and hints of vanilla. The finish is longer and crisp. As a limited, allocated release, it is a genuine trophy bottle and an ideal side by side with Batch 1 and Batch 3 to explore how proof reshapes the same mature bourbon. Sip it neat, let it rest, and add a drop of water to open it up.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
King of Kentucky (Brown-Forman) |
| Distillery |
Brown-Forman Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon (small batch) |
| Expression |
12 Year Old Small Batch, Batch 2 of 3 |
| Mashbill |
75% Corn, 15% Rye, 10% Malted Barley |
| Age |
12 Years (batch built from barrels aged 12 to 18 years) |
| Maturation |
Heat cycled warehouses; non chill filtered |
| ABV |
53.75% |
| Proof |
107.5 |
| Bottle Size |
700ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber.
Nose: Dark fruit notes of dates and fig layered with caramel and charred oak.
Palate: Caramel and charred oak with a minty lift and hints of vanilla.
Finish: Longer and crisp.
FAQ
What is King of Kentucky 12 Year Small Batch Batch 2? It is the middle release in Brown-Forman's three part King of Kentucky small batch collection, a 12 year old Kentucky straight bourbon built from a blend of barrels aged 12 to 18 years.
What proof is Batch 2? Batch 2 is bottled at 53.75 percent alcohol by volume, or 107.5 proof, without chill filtration. Batch 1 is 105 proof and Batch 3 is 110 proof.
What is the mash bill? A recipe of 75 percent corn, 15 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley, a departure from Brown-Forman's usual bourbon mash bill.
Why is it so limited? King of Kentucky is among Brown-Forman's most sought after and allocated bourbons, drawn from its finest and oldest barrels in tiny quantities.
How should I drink it? Neat, rested a few minutes, with an optional drop of water. It is excellent tasted alongside Batch 1 and Batch 3.
Where can I buy King of Kentucky 12 Year Small Batch Batch 2 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
