Cream of Kentucky 13 Year Batch 4 Kentucky Whiskey (750 mL)

Cream of Kentucky 13 Year Batch #4 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750mL) — Jim Rutledge Selection | 13 Year | 102 Proof

Experience a mature Kentucky bourbon selected by one of the most respected names in American whiskey with Cream of Kentucky 13 Year Batch #4 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a limited 13-year-old release selected by legendary Master Distiller Jim Rutledge.

Batch #4 represents one of the standout releases from the modern revival of the historic Cream of Kentucky name.

After spending 13 years maturing in Kentucky, the bourbon was bottled at 51% ABV (102 Proof), giving it enough strength to showcase its mature oak and concentrated flavor while preserving the rich, creamy texture that makes this batch particularly memorable.

The result is a beautifully mature bourbon layered with vanilla cream, caramel, English toffee, baked apple, peach, apricot, pecan praline, cinnamon, clove, orange, brown sugar, seasoned oak, and warming spice.

For enthusiasts of older Kentucky bourbon and collectors of Jim Rutledge-selected whiskey, Cream of Kentucky Batch #4 represents a fascinating release from the early years of the brand's modern revival.

🥃 Product Details

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Brand: Cream of Kentucky

Batch: Batch #4

Age: 13 Years

Bottle Size: 750mL

ABV: 51%

Proof: 102 Proof

Whiskey Selection: Jim Rutledge

Production: Kentucky

Maturation: New Charred Oak

Distillery of Origin: Not Officially Disclosed

Release: Limited Batch

Character: Vanilla Cream, Caramel, Toffee, Baked Apple, Peach, Apricot, Pecan, Cinnamon, Clove, Orange & Mature Oak

🥃 Selected by Jim Rutledge

The name Jim Rutledge carries enormous significance in Kentucky bourbon.

Rutledge spent decades in the whiskey industry and became best known for his tenure as Master Distiller at Four Roses, where he played an important role in building the modern reputation of the distillery's bourbon.

After leaving Four Roses, Rutledge became involved in the revival of Cream of Kentucky.

Rather than simply attach his name to the bottle, Rutledge personally selected mature Kentucky bourbon stocks for the modern releases.

Batch #4 showcases that barrel-selection philosophy with whiskey that had already spent an impressive 13 years developing in oak.

🥃 13 Years of Kentucky Maturation

Thirteen years is substantial age for Kentucky bourbon.

Because bourbon matures in new charred oak, the barrel can influence American whiskey much more aggressively than the previously used casks common in many other whisky categories.

Over 13 years, Kentucky's seasonal temperature swings repeatedly push whiskey into and out of the oak.

That interaction develops concentrated flavors of:

Vanilla

Caramel

Brown Sugar

Baking Spice

Toasted Nuts

Seasoned Oak

The challenge is maintaining balance.

At this age, bourbon can easily become excessively tannic or dry.

Batch #4 instead retains substantial sweetness and fruit alongside its mature oak character.

🥃 The Cream in Cream of Kentucky

The name is particularly appropriate for Batch #4.

One of the most frequently noted characteristics of this release is its creamy texture and dessert-like flavor profile.

Think:

Vanilla Cream

Caramel

Toffee

Pound Cake

Meringue

Pecan Praline

Those richer flavors are balanced by fruit and spice:

Apple

Peach

Apricot

Orange

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Clove

The result is an old bourbon that doesn't rely exclusively on oak for its personality.

There's enough sweetness, fruit, and creamy texture to keep the whiskey lively.

🥃 102 Proof — 51% ABV

Cream of Kentucky Batch #4 is bottled at 102 Proof (51% ABV).

That proof works particularly well with whiskey of this age.

There is enough concentration to carry the mature flavors without turning the bourbon into an exercise in alcohol intensity.

At full strength, expect the oak and spice to be more prominent.

Allow the whiskey several minutes in the glass and the sweeter characteristics begin to emerge:

Vanilla

Caramel

Brown Sugar

Baked Fruit

Toffee

A few drops of water can further soften the oak and reveal additional fruit and creamy sweetness.

🥃 A Classic Mature Bourbon Profile

Batch #4 doesn't depend on an exotic finishing cask or unusual flavoring technique.

Its complexity comes from time, oak, blending, and whiskey selection.

The nose begins with classic mature bourbon characteristics:

Caramel

Vanilla

Oak

Cinnamon

Clove

Then the fruit develops.

Apple and orange bring brightness.

Peach and apricot add ripe stone-fruit sweetness.

As the whiskey moves across the palate, darker flavors emerge:

Brown Sugar

Pecan

Toffee

Baking Spice

Leather

That progression gives Batch #4 the layered character enthusiasts often seek in well-aged Kentucky bourbon.

🥃 The Revival of an Historic Whiskey Name

Cream of Kentucky is not a newly invented whiskey name.

The brand has roots stretching back to the late 19th century and became particularly recognizable during the decades surrounding Prohibition.

Eventually, the historic whiskey disappeared from shelves.

The modern revival brought the name back generations later, with Jim Rutledge playing a central role in selecting whiskey for the reborn brand.

That combination of historic branding and mature Kentucky bourbon made the early Cream of Kentucky batches particularly interesting to collectors.

Batch #4 is part of that early revival period.

🥃 A Limited Batch, Not a Permanent Recipe

The numbered batch designation is important.

This isn't simply a bottle labeled Cream of Kentucky 13 Year that can be reproduced indefinitely.

It is specifically:

Batch #4.

The mature whiskey selected for this release represented the stocks available and chosen by Jim Rutledge for that particular bottling.

Once those barrels were blended and bottled, the exact combination was gone.

Future batches could carry the Cream of Kentucky name, but they could not reproduce the precise maturation and barrel characteristics of Batch #4.

That's part of what makes the early numbered releases appealing to bourbon collectors.

🥃 Distillery Provenance

Cream of Kentucky Batch #4 was created from sourced Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

The precise distillery of origin was not officially disclosed as part of the release.

Various whiskey enthusiasts and publications have speculated about the source of the mature bourbon, but without definitive producer confirmation, the most accurate way to describe Batch #4 is simply as:

13-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey selected by Jim Rutledge.

For collectors, that distinction is worth preserving rather than presenting speculation as established provenance.

⭐ Why You'll Love It

• Cream of Kentucky Batch #4
• Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 13-year age statement
• Selected by Jim Rutledge
• 102 Proof
• 51% ABV
• Mature Kentucky bourbon
• Limited numbered batch
• Early release from the modern Cream of Kentucky revival
• Rich, creamy mouthfeel
• Vanilla cream
• Caramel
• English toffee
• Brown sugar
• Baked apple
• Peach
• Apricot
• Orange
• Pecan praline
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Clove
• Baking spice
• Leather
• Seasoned oak
• Long, warming finish
• Excellent bottle for Jim Rutledge collectors
• Particularly appealing for enthusiasts of mature Kentucky bourbon

🍽️ How to Enjoy

A 13-year-old bourbon like Batch #4 benefits from a little time in the glass:

• Serve neat at room temperature
• Use a Glencairn or Kentucky bourbon glass
• Allow 10–15 minutes to open
• Experience the first sip at full 102 Proof
• Add several drops of water if desired
• Avoid excessive dilution
• Pair with toasted pecans
• Excellent with apple cobbler
• Pair with crème brûlée
• Enjoy alongside dark chocolate
• Pair with caramelized peaches
• Excellent with aged cheddar
• Pair with pecan pie
• Enjoy slowly as an after-dinner bourbon
• Compare with other early Cream of Kentucky batches