Castle & Key Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Castle & Key · Castle & Key Distillery
Castle & Key's restoration of the old E.H. Taylor property is paying dividends. This bourbon channels the limestone-filtered water and deep Kentucky tradition of its storied grounds into a young but remarkably poised whiskey. It's proof that provenance isn't just a marketing word — it's a flavor.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Bright orchard fruit opens the nose, followed by a warm wave of caramel and fresh-cut oak. There's a gentle sweetness underneath — almost cornbread — with a whisper of dried flowers.
Palate
The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and silky, with butterscotch leading into toasted grain and baking spices. Midpalate delivers a soft cherry note wrapped in vanilla, with a mineral dryness that keeps everything honest.
Finish
Clean and moderate, leaving behind charred oak and a lingering sweetness that fades into light pepper.
- Mash Bill
- 73% Corn, 10% Rye, 17% Malted Barley
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak barrels
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Limestone Sour — 2 oz Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup · 1 egg white · Dry shake, then shake with ice, strain into coupe, garnish with lemon peel.
Food Pairing
Warm skillet cornbread finished with brown butter and drizzled with local wildflower honey, echoing the bourbon's corn sweetness and butterscotch depth.
Built on the ruins of the original Old Taylor Distillery in Woodford County, Castle & Key was painstakingly restored by Will Arvin and Wes Murry, who spent years reviving the spring-fed property before ever filling a barrel.
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