Castle & Key Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Castle & Key is located in Frankfort, Kentucky, on a historic property dating from 1887, and combines on-site production of bourbon, wheated bourbon, Restoration Rye, as well as gin and vodka with a strong visitor focus. Guests can stroll the gardens, book experiences, and visit The Boiler Room, where the portfolio and site-exclusive bottles are sold. The distillery works with both core releases and experimental limited editions under an Experimental Series.
History
The property was established in 1887 by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. and has architectural and historical significance that today frames both production and guest experiences. In its modern form, Castle & Key produces bourbons, rye, gin and vodka on site and has arranged the area for visitors with gardens, tours, and event spaces. The historical origin and the connection to E.H. Taylor Jr. are a throughline in the distillery's story and in the launch of experimental series that celebrate curiosity and exploration of flavor.
Raw Materials and Production
Production takes place on-site with a portfolio that includes bourbon, wheated bourbon, Restoration Rye, as well as gin and vodka. The distillery markets an Experimental Series, where aging completion and finish experiments are explored, and also offers contract distilling and bottling for partners. Technical details such as mash bills (except for the term 'wheated'), the number and type of stills, or water sources are not specified in the product overview; the communication focuses on craftsmanship, place character, and experimental cask use.
Maturation and Cask Types
A concrete example of the distillery's aging work is a Restoration Rye, aged about four years in Kentucky and then given a 13-month finish in Haitian rum barrels, previously used for rhum agricole. This approach demonstrates a deliberate strategy to combine American whiskey structure with Caribbean barrel profiles to create new aroma and flavor combinations.
Whiskies
The portfolio contains core releases such as Small Batch Bourbon, Small Batch Wheated Bourbon and Restoration Rye Whiskey, complemented by gin and vodka. In addition to these fixed expressions, Castle & Key releases an Experimental Series with site-exclusive and limited releases; a concrete example is a rye with a finish in Haitian rum barrels. The website and Boiler Room serve as sales channels for both fixed and rotating releases.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon | Bourbon | 6 years | Small Batch Bourbon is one of the house's core expressions; the current release has aged six years. | Current; Core Range | ||
| Castle & Key Small Batch Wheated Bourbon | Bourbon (wheated) | A wheated small batch bourbon, named after the use of wheat in the grain bill. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Castle & Key Restoration Rye Whiskey | Rye | Restoration Rye is one of the distillery's rye expressions and also serves as the base for experimental finish releases. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Castle & Key Experimental Series: Extra Old Haitian Rhum | Rye (finished) | 58.1 % | 4 years + 13 months finish | Haitian rhum barrels; finish: 13 months in Haitian rhum barrels after four years in Kentucky | An experimental release from the Experimental Series where Restoration Rye received a 13-month finish in Haitian rhum barrels; available online and in retailers nationwide.; Nose: brûléed banana, charred thyme, cream cheese frosting, jasmine, dried pineapple, Demerara sugar, vanilla bean, cinnamon; Taste: Fruitcake, blackstrap molasses, plum, hibiscus, rum raisin, fried plantains, black cardamom, clove; Finish: Currants, anise, cigar wrap, lingering dark sugar | Limited; Available online and in retailers across the nation |
| Castle & Key Archive: Autumn 2019 Seasonal Gin | Gin | 51.5 % | Seasonal gin from 2019 with botanicals such as juniper, coriander, angelica, licorice, cassia bark, ginger, pink peppercorn, clove and white sage. Indicated ABV 51.5%. | Discontinued (Archive); Sold out (archive) | ||
| Sacred Spring Vodka | Vodka | The distillery's vodka, listed among the house's spirits. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Roots of Ruin Gin | Gin | A core product in the gin range, mentioned in the overview of the distillery's spirits. | Current; Core Range |
Whisky Style and Flavor Profile
Documented product descriptions point to three overarching flavor directions: tropical/dried fruit (for example brûléed banana, dried pineapple, fried plantains), spicy notes (cinnamon, clove, black cardamom, pink peppercorn in gin), and sugar-sweetness/vanilla (Demerara sugar, vanilla bean, lingering dark sugar). These elements appear especially in Experimental Series releases and are complemented by the gin's botanical composition.
Visit the Distillery
The facility is open to the public and offers opportunities to book experiences. Visitors can stroll the gardens, take tours of the production area, and visit The Boiler Room, where the full portfolio and rotating, site-exclusive bottles are sold. The distillery's hours are Monday–Tuesday Closed; Wednesday–Saturday 10:30 AM–5:00 PM; Sunday 11:00 AM–5:00 PM, and all bars close at 4:30 PM. There are also facilities for events, weddings, and corporate functions.
The stated hours are Monday - Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday - Saturday: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM (All bars close at 4:30 PM).
Philosophy and Craft
Castle & Key works with the idea that spirits are shaped by place, and emphasizes craft and intention in production: "Spirits shaped by place, crafted with intention, and meant to be shared." Experiments and an open approach to cask use and collaborations are central elements in the company’s practice.