Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Castle & Key. 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 towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
The Castle and Key journey has roots dating back to 1887, when Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr built a castle at his Old Taylor Distillery inspired by European architecture. Unfortunately, Prohibition closed the Old Taylor distillery in 1920, and the property changed hands many times before falling into ruin. In 2014 the property was purchased to be the home of Castle and Key. Wes Murray and Will Arvin didn’t just renovate this old distillery; they restored it to its original status as a bourbon tourism destination.
Murray and Arvin loved bourbon culture, but they also wanted to build something different, something to challenge convention. They assembled a team of people from outside the industry who believed in their vision and didn’t listen to the industry experts that thought they were crazy. They chose to restore the old ruins to their former glory rather than start over or just “renovate” it. It was important to them to keep the site as close to the original as possible with the European-inspired architecture and gardens.
Restoration Rye’s whiskeys are distilled onsite. To start from scratch on Restoration Rye took a lot longer than sourcing already barreled whiskey, but Murray and Arvin felt it was an important part of “reimagining” the way spirits were presented to the world.
Castle and Key’s first product was barreled in 2016. In 2020, Restoration Rye Batch One was born when it was released to the world. There have been two batch releases. “Each batch of our Restoration Rye Whiskey is blended using a series of pods. Each pod is created by grouping barrels to create a specific sensory profile,” said Castle and Key on their website. Maybe it’s just marketing terminology that they’ve developed to say that they select barrels like everyone else, but it’s a fun spin.
You could say, the whole Castle and Key distillery from grain to glass, from the gardens and koi pond, to the buildings is a sensory experience. It’s not your everyday Kentucky distillery but meant to be a destination for anyone that loves European architecture. A true tourist destination for one and all.
Tasting Notes: Restoration Rye 2020 Batch 1
Vital Stats: Mash bill of 63% rye, 20% malted barley and 17% yellow corn. 103 proof and aged under 4 years, on average. Only 60 barrels. $40.
Appearance: Deep golden butter. Beautiful architectural label and etched details on bottle and cork.
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Nose: Tropical fruit like papaya, citrus, pineapple, and banana. There’s floral sweetness that’s very pleasant. It’s reminiscent of an egg tart.
Palate: The flavors are simple and umami-based which is very different than the sweetness on the nose. There’s a little black pepper, citrus zest, and roasted corn heat at the back of the throat that eventually settles on the tongue as a maple syrup.
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