King of Kentucky 12 Year Old Small Batch, Batch 3 of 3, is the final and highest proof 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 3 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. As the highest proof of the trio, Batch 3 is bottled without chill filtration at a bold 110 proof, delivering the fullest, most oak forward expression of the series. It pours a deep reddish amber and opens with rich chocolate and brown sugar brightened by citrus and pine. The palate is bold and structured, with pronounced oak and spice riding on top of that mature, sweet core, and the finish is the longest and most oak forward of the three. As a limited, allocated release, it is a genuine trophy bottle and the exclamation point on a three batch tasting. Sip it neat, let it rest, and add a drop of water to tame the proof and open the sweetness.
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 3 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 |
55% |
| Proof |
110 |
| Bottle Size |
700ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep reddish amber.
Nose: Rich chocolate and brown sugar brightened by citrus and pine.
Palate: Bold oak and spice over a mature, sweet core.
Finish: The longest and most oak forward of the three batches.
FAQ
What is King of Kentucky 12 Year Small Batch Batch 3? It is the final, highest proof 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 3? Batch 3 is bottled at 55 percent alcohol by volume, or 110 proof, without chill filtration, the highest of the series. Batch 1 is 105 proof and Batch 2 is 107.5 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 2.
Where can I buy King of Kentucky 12 Year Small Batch Batch 3 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
