Castle & Key

by Brian Donnelly

August 1, 2022


Overview

The Castle & Key Distillery, Kentucky DSP, or distilled spirits plant 18, is a modern distillery built on the historical site of the Old Taylor Distillery, created by bourbon legend Colonel E.H. Taylor in 1887 as the culmination of his life's work. The property is located in Frankfurt, Kentucky, just a 20-minute drive south of the present-day Buffalo Trace Distillery. When it was built, the Old Taylor Distillery was like no other distillery. At the time, whiskey distilleries looked more like factories, mills, or manufacturing facilities. Taylor built his distillery to look attractive and appealing, styling the main building to resemble a medieval European castle, which included a classically inspired springhouse and sunken gardens. The location became a tourist attraction. Taylor paved the way for bourbon tourism by building a train station and updating the road infrastructure to allow visitors in cars to more easily reach the distillery. At the heart of the distillery is Taylor's original water source. Knowing how important good water was to whiskey production, Taylor referred to his water source as the “key to his success" and built it in the shape of a giant keyhole. These two signature aspects of the distillery provided easy inspiration for the modern name of the Castle & Key Distillery. From production to tourism, Taylor drove real innovation and modernization in many aspects of bourbon. Perhaps his greatest legacy will be the political lobbying to ensure the passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the first consumer protection law in the United States. In 2014, the founding partners for Castle & Key purchased the Old Taylor Distillery, which had sat abandoned since the 1970s, and began restoring this icon of bourbon history. The Castle & Key brand believes in transparency and emphasizes quality over quantity. They produce all their products on-site from grain to glass using Colonel E.H. Taylor's original water source.


Castle & Key Sacred Spring Vodka

The Castle & Key Sacred Spring Vodka is truly a unique premium vodka with some real character. Instead of using just one grain, such as corn, which is common for American vodka, this vodka is distilled in-house from the brand’s bourbon mash bill of 73 % white corn, 10 % Kentucky rye, and 17 % Kentucky malted barley. The grain mash bill is first distilled in their 32 inch Vendome copper column still, followed by a 600-gallon copper pot still, then further distilled to the highest purity on their customer Vendome vodka still. The distillate is cut, or proofed down, to 80 proof (40 % ABV) with the mineral-rich limestone water from the "key," which is the 140,00 gallon naturally fed, historic, key-shaped spring. The name Scared Spring Vodka speaks to the importance of the Springhouse as the water source for this made-from-scratch spirit recipe. The label detail highlights the Springhouse's keyhole shape and represents the water as liquid gold.


Castle & Key Roots of Ruin Gin

The Castle & Key Roots of Ruin Gin is distilled from grain-to-glass on-site. The base spirit is distilled to 190 proof (95 % ABV) from the brand's rye mash bill of 17 % yellow corn, 63 % Kentucky rye, 20 % Kentucky malt. The first distillation is done in the 32 inch Vendome copper column still, followed by a 600-gallon copper pot still, then further distilled to the highest purity in their custom Vendome dual-basket gin still. The seven botanicals are all sourced locally from the state of Kentucky and features: Chamomile, Ginger, Angelica Root, Lemon Verbena, Rosemary, Licorice Root, Coriander, and Juniper. Just like with the vodka, this product uses the mineral-rich limestone water from the "key," which is the 140,00 gallon naturally fed, historic, key-shaped spring in the heart of the distillery. The Roots of Ruin name refers to restoring the property and creating something new while honoring the site's history. The label highlights the native botanicals used in the gin recipe and showcases the turret of the Castle. This product is bottled at 106 proof (53 % ABV), which means it will hold well in cocktails. 


Castle & Key Restoration Rye

The Castle & Key Restoration Rye pays homage to the restoration of the property, with the imagery highlighting the special care and attention to detail of all the hands that have worked to create and release the brand’s first whiskey. The mash bill is 17 % yellow corn, 63 % Kentucky rye, and 20 % Kentucky malted barley. The Castle & Key Distillery has two 50-foot-tall column stills with a doubler, one 24 inches wide, and the second 32 inches wide, made by Vendome Copper & Brass. One still is named Maribelle, after Colonel E.H. Taylor's wife, and the second is named Fanny, after his daughter. The rye is distilled to 135 proof (67.5 % ABV), reduced to a barrel-entry-proof of 118 (59 % ABV), and matured on-site in toasted # 3 and # 4 charred barrels sourced from Speyside Cooperage in Kentucky. The brand takes a vintage-dated approach to emphasis the consistency of quality and flavor. The batch size never exceeds 80 barrels. This product is bottled around 100 proof (50 % ABV), with a plus or minus of three proofs based on the release.

  • The 2020 Batch # 1 had a 3-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 60 barrels bottled at 103 (51.5 % ABV).

  • The 2020 Batch # 2 had a 3-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 57 barrels bottled at 99 proof (49.5 % ABV).

  • The 2021 Batch # 1 had a 3-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 80 barrels bottled at 101 proof (50.5 % ABV).

  • The 2021 Batch # 2 had a 3-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 75 barrels bottled at 104 proof (52 % ABV).

  • The 2021 Batch # 3 had a 4-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 70 barrels bottled at 105 proof (52.5 % ABV).

  • The 2022 Batch # 1 had a 3-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 60 barrels bottled at 113 proof (56.5 % ABV).

  • The 2022 Batch # 2 had a 3-year-old-age statement with a batch size of 60 barrels bottled at 105 proof (52.5 % ABV).


Castle & Key Bourbon

The Castle & Key brand produces both a traditional and wheated bourbon. Each bourbon line will have a Small Batch, Single Barrel, and Bottled-in-Bond expression. The traditional bourbon mash bill is 73 % white corn, 10 % Kentucky rye, and 17 % Kentucky malted barley, and the wheated bourbon is 73 % white corn, 10 % white wheat, and 17 % Kentucky malted barley. The Castle & Key Distillery has two 50-foot-tall column stills with a doubler, one 24 inches wide, and the second 32 inches wide made by Vendome Copper & Brass. One still is named Maribelle, after Colonel E.H. Taylor's wife, and the second is named Fanny, after his daughter. The bourbon is distilled to 135 proof (67.5 % ABV), reduced to a barrel-entry-proof of 115 (57.5 % ABV), and matured on-site in toasted #3 and #4 charred barrels sourced from Speyside Cooperage in Kentucky. 


Castle & Key Small Batch Traditional Bourbon

  • The 2022 Batch # 1 had a 4-year-old age statement with a batch size of 80 barrels bottled at 98 proof (49 % ABV).

  • The 2022 Batch # 2 had a 4-year-old age statement with a batch size of 80 barrels bottled at 99 proof (49.5 % ABV).

  • The 2022 Batch # 3 also has a 4-year-old age statement with a batch size of 40 barrels bottled at 96 proof (48 % ABV).


Castle & Key Small Batch Wheated Bourbon


Castle & Castle & Key Harvest Gin

The ideal gift! Buy the best modern gin online. Price and reviews available for Castle & Castle & Key Harvest Gin Modern - 750ml Bottle. Botanicals: Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root, Star Anise, Cedar Leaf, Sumac, Fennel, Bay Leaf Mash bill: 17% Yellow Corn, 63% Rye, 20% Malted Barley Aroma: Soft pine, bay leaf, and fresh cracked pepper up front, highlighted with a light array of berry compote, sweet anise, savory herbal notes, and a touch of tanginess Taste: Fresh cedar, licorice, woodsy and earthy, with notes of tart dark berries, cinnamon, fennel clove, and soft pepper Finish: Sweet, spicy with a touch of savory and a lingering warmth


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