King of Kentucky 18 Year Bourbon (2022 Release)

I've been trying to taste a King of Kentucky (KoK) for the past three years, but I always seem to either sadly get there just as the last glass has been poured or find that the place charges a price for a pour that's as much as a full bottle at MSRP or even more, which is beyond what I consider a reasonable cost per pour (about thirty percent or less than a full bottle at MSRP). My search for this rare find continued until one day, a stranger with similar interests and I were discussing bourbon at a bar. He told us about a place that had a King for a reasonable price that fit my pour limit. Excited, we quickly went to finally fulfill my quest for this rare bottle and when we got there, we found not only a KoK, but also a 14, 15, and 18-year-old version. After a brief discussion, our group decided to buy a pour of all three, compare them, and have a KoK competition to see which King reigns supreme. Beginning with the youngest of the three, the 14-year-old has a moderately rich aroma with a mild dusty oak note underlying sweet flavors of sugar daddy candy and creamy citrus, with everything tasting balanced and the alcohol content surprisingly subdued for being over 60% ABV. The taste follows the aroma, with everything balanced and a mild spice before a medium-long sweet and slightly spicy finish. 4.25 Next was the 15-year-old, with a velvety rich and bold aroma that makes the 14-year-old seem quite tame in comparison. The oak is more prominent in the 15-year-old, with the dusty oak no longer in the background but front and center, working well with those creamy sugar daddy candies and dark fruits, while the ethanol is still very much under control. The taste is the same as the aroma, with a masterfully composed balance and a rich, oily mouthfeel that coats the palate and finishes long with sweet tobacco, creamy citrus, and old dusty oak that lingers for minutes. 4.5 The last of the group was the 18-year-old, which we all hoped would be the best. Unfortunately, after the 15-year-old, the aroma comes across as quite tannic, with the oak no longer balanced with the creamy candy sweetness and dark fruits, but rather taking center stage and overpowering those creamy sweet and fruit notes, although the ethanol is still surprisingly under control for the 67% ABV. The taste doesn't improve on the aroma and actually seems to bring a stronger bitter, over-brewed tea flavor that dominates the experience, with those creamy sweets peeking through very slightly, and finishes medium-long with bitter black tea and cracked leather, with the sweet candies and fruits barely noticeable. 3.25 After the KoK competition, the four of us unanimously declared the 15-year-old the true King, with the 14-year-old earning prince status and the 18-year-old receiving a humble court jester title. However, these are all single barrels, so your experience and ranking might differ depending on the barrel you try. Unfortunately, these have long been sold out at retailers at their MSRP, and a quick internet search shows that they now all cost in the thousands, with the 18-year-old nearing $10k on some sites. These are absurdly high prices that don't seem justified, and I personally believe there are many other spirits that can compete with these for much less. If you happen to find a bar that has them for a reasonable price, I recommend trying the 14 or 15-year-old, as they are truly special, just not special enough to warrant a thousand-dollar bottle or a ridiculously overpriced pour.

Barrel 1 King of Kentucky 15 Year Old turned up to maximum. Better equilibrium than barrel 3. Among the greatest textures ever. Perfect.

Strong oak presence. It lacks balance and is hot. Excessive oak: /7 yield