Castle & Key Straight Bourbon Batch No. 1

Castle & Key Straight Bourbon Batch No. 1

Proof: 98 (49% ABV)
Age: 4 years
Nose: Honey, orange peel
Taste: Vanilla, spiced bread, corn
Finish: Nutmeg, cinnamon

It’s impossible to separate Castle & Key’s history and story from their first bourbon release. The site where their distillery now operates was first founded by Colonel E.H. Taylor, one of the first in the Kentucky whiskey industry to realize the potential of bourbon distilleries in tourism. This led to the construction of the Old Taylor Distillery in 1887 and the castle the grounds became famous for.

After changing hands multiple times, the distillery closed in 1972 and was left to the elements. The castle and the rickhouses were overgrown, and local teenagers would break into the grounds to explore and party.

But current owner Will Arven and his colleagues saw promise in the almost medieval ruins of the site and in 2014 decided to rebuild using as many of the original warehouses and materials as possible. The castle was refitted as a modern distillery and Castle & Key opened in 2018. While waiting for their bourbon to mature, they began production with their own line of seasonal gins, vodka, and rye whiskeys, all distilled completely on-site.

Now in 2022 Castle & Key has released their first straight bourbon, a right of passage for any Kentucky distillery. For a relatively new institution its story and history are fascinating, but does the bourbon deliver?

Tasting notes

On the nose, Castle & Key’s first batch of bourbon offers a honey and spice-forward aroma. There’s also a hint of citrus peel and vanilla. There isn’t much of the oakiness, or caramel and maple scents that accompany more mature bourbons.

Upon the first sip, there’s a lot of sweetness from the corn upfront. As the bourbon coats the palate, there are notes of baking spice, malted barley, vanilla, and a hint of citrus. It’s corn-forward as all bourbons should be, but there’s an unmistakable maltiness that balances the sweetness from the corn and the spice from the rye that presents itself almost like a spiced dessert bread.

The finish on this bourbon is relatively short, but pleasant. The peppery notes of nutmeg and cinnamon linger a bit longer than the other flavors.

Conclusion

This bourbon is approachable and easy to drink. It has the complexity to satisfy a connoisseur when served neat but is easy enough that casual bourbon fans can enjoy it as well. For their first go of things, Castle & Key could have done a hell of a lot worse.

With the second batch of Castle & Key’s straight bourbon on the horizon, it’s difficult not to see their first straight bourbon as a promising step into a competitive market. A dedication to craftsmanship is clearly there, and as their bourbon continues to age I’m sure future expressions will just continue to be more interesting. Despite their historic relation to bourbon royalty and being raised from literal ruins, Castle & Key has crafted a unique path forward for themselves.