Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Castle & Key took over the Old Taylor Distillery in Millville, KY in 2014. The distillery was shuttered in 1972 after 85 years in operation. It was founded by the legendary host Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.
What is today the reborn Old Taylor Distillery harkens back to the days of spectacle. Most of the buildings on the 113 acre plot are original 1800’s stock, revamped and rebuilt to their modern uses. Guests can stroll the Botanical Trail and learn more about Castle & Key’s gin making process, tour parts of the property preserved as ruins, and enjoy the more typical production tour, tastings and gift shop. Visitors can even stay in two nearby historic homes.
As for the release I’m tasting, Castle & Key Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Batch No. 1, it is the first wheated bourbon to come from here since the distillery was restored in 2014. It is described by the brand as being “a reimagined mashbill of our flagship Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey” with a “sweeter and smoother finish, making this spirit the perfect complement to your favorite cocktail or easy to sip neat.”
Tasting Notes: Castle & Key Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Vital Stats: 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.
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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.
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