King of Kentucky Single Barrel 17-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2025 Release)

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Decadent and massive. It opens with chocolate fudge, cloves, and butterscotch, followed by dark honey, torched orange peel, and a distinct hazelnut spread note.
• Palate: A powerful yet balanced "flavor explosion." It is famous for a "sprightly" bright cherry note that cuts through layers of sugar cookies, cinnamon bark, and Tahitian vanilla. It has a thick, buttery mouthfeel.
• Finish: Monumentally long. It evolves from sweet vanilla and almond extract into deep stewed plums, leather, and honeyed black tea, with the oak influence appearing prominently only at the very end.

Food Pairings

• Savory: Aged Ribeye Steak. The 131-proof heat requires the heavy fats of a premium steak to soften the palate, while the oak tannins in the whiskey enhance the charred, savory crust of the meat.
• Cheese: Old Amsterdam Aged Gouda. The crystalline, caramel-like crunch of an extra-aged Gouda perfectly matches the bourbon's butterscotch and toasted nut profile.
• Sweet: Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordials. The "sprightly" cherry and fudge notes in the 2025 release are perfectly mirrored by high-quality dark chocolate and fruit.
• The "Connoisseur" Pairing: A Maduro Cigar. With its notes of leather, tobacco, and dark chocolate, this is widely considered one of the best "cigar bourbons" ever made.