Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Castle & Key Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon

We review Castle & Key Small Batch Wheated Bourbon, produced on the grounds of a very historic distillery in Kentucky.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Castle & Key Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Batch No. 1 is 100 proof, made from 73% white corn, 10% wheat, and 17% malted barley, then aged for five years. Batch No. 1 is a grouping (they call them pods) of 49 barrels. Find a 750mL fluted, short-necked custom bottle for $59.99 in select US markets, mostly west of the Mississippi.
Appearance:
This liquid is a very clear medium amber that beads and forms slow tears.
Nose:
Savory aromas of smoked meat threaded with baking spices dominate, and there’s a minty freshness, too. New two-by-fours lie underneath the tastier notes.
Palate:
The palate is surprisingly fruity – and blue fruit at that. A bit of bite on the attack, and the spice of the nose comes through on the mid-palate. The medium long finish of herbal bitterness lingers on the sides of the tongue.
Finish:
Comments:
This is a solid whiskey. Nothing revolutionary, but a slightly more savory, not-too-hot wheated bourbon. In my home bar, it’ll be perfect for stirred cocktails with a botanical edge to play off the umami notes.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Cindy Capparelli

Cindy Capperelli is the visionary founder of Portland Bitters Project, established in 2014 with the ambition to craft the finest bitters available. Today, her bitters are savored across the United States and internationally, enhancing cocktails with expressive flavors. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Cindy shares her expertise as an instructor at two Portland colleges. She also engages with private groups, distilleries, and maker's spaces, advocating for the use of high-quality ingredients and time-honored techniques. Cindy empowers her students with the confidence and knowledge to create exceptional drinks at home, experiment with tinctures, and enrich their overall food and beverage experiences.

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