Louisville Kings Bourbon: Copper & Kings Apple Brandy Finish
Louisville's got something to celebrate beyond touchdowns this spring. The Louisville Kings and Copper & Kings American Brandy Company just dropped word of a single barrel bourbon that's been resting in an apple brandy barrel for over three years—a 15-year Kentucky bourbon that spent 18 total years in wood before getting that brandy barrel treatment. It's a commemorative pour marking the team's inaugural season, and with only 150 bottles heading into circulation, this one's built for the collector's shelf as much as the game-day toast.
The Barrel Behind the Bottle
This isn't your standard rickhouse pick. The Louisville Kings hand-selected a single barrel of 15-year Kentucky bourbon that had already logged extra time in wood—18 years total—before Copper & Kings finished it in one of their apple brandy barrels for more than three years. That extended finishing period lets the brandy barrel work its magic deep into the whiskey, pulling fruit-forward character into an already mature bourbon. The result is a limited collector release priced at $300 per bottle, with all 150 bottles reserved exclusively through a special release form. Each bottle comes signed by Head Coach Chris Redman, tying the liquid directly to the franchise's first chapter.
The official bottle release celebration happens Monday, March 23, from 6–9 p.m. ET at the Copper & Kings Distillery in Louisville's Butchertown neighborhood. Your $300 ticket secures one signed bottle, admission for two guests, complimentary food and drinks all evening, and live music on-site. Can't make the event? You can still reserve a bottle and arrange pickup later, though availability won't last long with this kind of scarcity.
Why This Barrel Matters for Bourbon Collectors
Inaugural releases carry weight in the spirits world. They mark a moment in time—a first chapter that can never be repeated. Copper & Kings has built a reputation for barrel innovation, aging brandy in bourbon barrels and flipping the script by finishing bourbon in brandy casks. This Louisville Kings barrel takes that approach and layers on franchise history, making it a double collectible: a rare finishing technique tied to a hometown team's debut season. Rob Bourdon of Copper & Kings put it plainly—this is about celebrating the start of something special for Louisville, and the bottle is designed to be as rare and memorable as the season itself.
The partnership extends beyond the barrel, too. Copper & Kings becomes an Official Partner of the Louisville Kings and takes over tailgate duties with the "Kings Before Kings" pre-game experience, connecting fans to the distillery through game-day activations all season long. With Lynn Family Stadium just minutes from the Copper & Kings distillery, the geography alone makes this pairing feel natural—two Louisville operations rooted in craft, community, and a little bit of showmanship.
Tasting Notes
The press release doesn't provide official tasting notes, but the structure tells the story. A 15-year bourbon base with 18 years in wood brings deep oak, vanilla, and caramel backbone. Finishing in an apple brandy barrel for over three years would layer in orchard fruit, baking spice, and a rounder mouthfeel—think baked apple, cinnamon, and a hint of brandy sweetness riding over the bourbon's char and grain. This is a sipper built for contemplation, not speed.
How the Partnership Plays Out on Game Day
Copper & Kings isn't just stamping their name on a bottle and calling it a day. The distillery becomes the Official Tailgate of the Louisville Kings through the "Kings Before Kings" pre-game experience, a nod to the ritual of gathering before kickoff. Expect distillery activations, tastings, and fan engagement throughout the season, all built around connecting Louisville's spirits culture to its newest sports franchise. The Louisville Kings kick off their inaugural season at Lynn Family Stadium on Friday, March 27, at 8 p.m. against the Birmingham Stallions—just four days after the bottle release celebration.
With only 150 bottles in existence, this inaugural barrel is positioned to become one of the most limited collector releases Copper & Kings has ever produced. For fans of both barrel-finished whiskey and Louisville sports history, this is the kind of release that doesn't come around twice. It's a single barrel snapshot of a moment—one season, one team, one finishing barrel, all bottled and signed before the first snap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Louisville Kings bourbon different from other Copper & Kings releases?
The Louisville Kings bourbon is a hand-selected 15-year Kentucky bourbon with 18 total years in wood, finished for over three years in a Copper & Kings apple brandy barrel. It's a commemorative single barrel release limited to just 150 bottles, each signed by Head Coach Chris Redman, making it a collector's piece tied to the team's inaugural season. The extended apple brandy barrel finish and the franchise connection set it apart from standard Copper & Kings offerings.
How much does the Louisville Kings inaugural bourbon cost and where can I buy it?
The bourbon is priced at $300 per bottle, which includes a ticket to the March 23 release event at Copper & Kings Distillery, admission for two guests, complimentary food and drinks, and live music. Bottles can only be reserved through the special release form provided by the team and distillery. If you can't attend the event, you can still purchase a ticket to secure a bottle and arrange pickup at Copper & Kings later, subject to availability.
How long was the Louisville Kings bourbon aged and finished?
The bourbon was aged 15 years as Kentucky bourbon and spent a total of 18 years in wood before being finished for more than three years in a Copper & Kings apple brandy barrel. That extended finishing period allows the apple brandy barrel to impart orchard fruit and spice character into an already mature bourbon base, creating a rare flavor profile for collectors and enthusiasts.
Will there be more Louisville Kings bourbon releases in the future?
The press release focuses on this inaugural barrel as a one-time commemorative release for the team's first season, with only 150 bottles ever produced. While the partnership between Copper & Kings and the Louisville Kings extends beyond this barrel into game-day activations and the "Kings Before Kings" tailgate experience, no additional barrel releases have been announced yet. Inaugural releases are typically unrepeatable by nature, making this barrel especially collectible.
What is Copper & Kings known for in the bourbon and brandy world?
Copper & Kings is a Louisville-based distillery known for reviving American brandy and pioneering barrel-finishing techniques that cross between bourbon and brandy. They age brandy in bourbon barrels and finish bourbon in brandy barrels, blending traditional American craft with innovative aging methods. The distillery is located in Louisville's Butchertown neighborhood, just minutes from Lynn Family Stadium, and features a rooftop bar with panoramic city views.