King of Kentucky 14 Year Bourbon (2021 Release)

My pursuit of a King of Kentucky (KoK) has spanned three years, often finding the last pour served or facing prices at or above MSRP, which exceeds my budget for a single serving. My quest continued until a chance conversation with a fellow enthusiast revealed a place offering a KoK at a reasonable pour price. Excited, we rushed to satisfy this pursuit and discovered not only a KoK but also 14, 15, and 18-year-old versions. Our group decided to sample all three, compare them, and determine the ultimate King. Beginning with the 14-year, its aroma was moderately rich, with a subtle dusty oak underlying sweet notes like sugar daddy candy and creamy citrus, all balanced surprisingly well for an ABV over 60%. The palate mirrored the nose, maintaining balance with a gentle spice before a medium-long finish of sweetness and light spice. (4.25) Next, the 15-year offered a velvety, rich, and bold aroma, making the 14-year seem subdued. The oak was more prominent, moving from the background to the forefront, harmonizing with creamy sugar daddy candies and dark fruits, while the ethanol remained well-controlled. The palate echoed the nose, showcasing masterful balance and a rich, oily mouthfeel that lingered with sweet tobacco, creamy citrus, and old dusty oak for minutes. (4.5) The 18-year, anticipated as the best, proved disappointing. Compared to the 15-year, its aroma was quite tannic, with oak overpowering the creamy candy sweetness and dark fruits. The ethanol was still surprisingly managed for its 67% ABV. The palate did not improve, introducing a bitter, over-brewed tea note that dominated, with only faint hints of the creamy sweets and fruits. It finished medium-long with bitter black tea and cracked leather, the sweet candies and fruits making only a slight appearance. (3.25) Following our comparison, the four of us unanimously selected the 15-year as the true King, with the 14-year as prince and the 18-year as jester. However, these were single barrels, so experiences may vary. Unfortunately, these bottles are long gone from retail at MSRP, and current online prices are in the thousands, with the 18-year approaching $10k. These astronomical prices are unjustified; many other whiskeys offer comparable quality for far less. If you find the 14 or 15-year at a reasonable bar price, I highly recommend trying them – they are truly special, just not worth thousands.

Nose: cherry, peanut, beeswax, caramel, there's an element on the nose I can't quite identify; initially I thought crayon, then beeswax, but it comes and goes with cinnamon. Body: full. Palate: cherry caramel oak, with more burnt sugar on the back palate. It has a creamy texture and a cinnamon spice. Finish: long and smoky. Note: An ounce from a friend. I was eager to try this specific whiskey, so this made my day. This is from the 2021 release, Batch 29. It's truly excellent. It met expectations. The nose has many intriguing aromas, the palate delivers big, bold flavors, and the finish is long and warming. I love it.

The aroma is impressively complex, featuring spice, earthiness, vanilla, and oak. The palate is remarkably complex, with a pleasant intensity. It presents earthy black tea, floral notes, spices, creamy vanilla, and subtle oak in the background. The finish highlights sweet vanilla and oak, concluding with a rich, earthy note at the very end. This is one of my favorite bourbons to date, and certainly the best I've experienced from Brown-Forman.

The aroma brings to mind a Payday bar covered in chocolate and a dusting of banana sweets. The taste is quite different. It's the same banana confection coated in peanut butter, with hints of vanilla mingling within. The aftertaste lingers, leaving a smooth sensation with notes of peanut, vanilla, and caramel.

This is peak quality. The aroma is amazing, and the palate is a straightforward explosion of vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel, with a very lingering spicy end. I could spend all day just smelling this. The only downsides are how difficult it is to locate at retail for $275, and I'm unwilling to pay $1200 on the resale market.

I found this bottle for $300 retail, which nearly made me faint. It's the only truly rare bottle I've acquired. I considered selling it but decided to enjoy it instead. I would gladly pay that price again.