KEYS TO THE CASTLE For the release of The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey, Chapter 1, Castle & Key Distillery is partnering with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild to make sure everyone's welcome at the bar. Written by Bridget Williams / Photography courtesy of Castle & Key Distillery Less than a decade ago, the physical remains of what had once been a pioneer and powerhouse in Kentucky's bourbon industry rested in ruin. Located on Glenn's Creek near Frankfort, the Old Taylor Distillery, founded in 1887 by Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, boasted a European-inspired castle, sunken gardens, and a springhouse. It was the original stop on Kentucky's Bourbon Trail a century before the term was made official by the Kentucky Distiller's Association. Colonel Taylor gets credit for leading the charge for the 1897 passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act, the first consumer protection act in the United States. According to Jonathan Newton, Director of Sales for Castle & Key Distillery, unlike today, where consumers camp out for days in an attempt to secure a new or limited-release bourbon from their favorite brand, in the late 1800s, bourbon was viewed by tipplers as "lesser than." "Colonel Taylor wanted bourbon to be the drink of kings, so he built the distillery to look like a limestone castle," Newton explained. Laying his own rail line and designation station allowed him to bring in building supplies and eventually tourists. Will Arvin and Wes Murray purchased the 113-acre Old Taylor Distillery site in 2014 and set about restoring the entirety of the property, taking a no-expense-spared approach to warmly 30 slmag.net
embracing its history. Assuming that any of the discernable patina is faux would certainly be a faux pas. Finished before distilling restarted, Jon Carloftis is credited with reviving the grounds, which included establishing a garden that produced botanicals for Castle & Key Distillery's first release— Roots of Ruin Gin—a nod to the property's phoenix-like rebirth. The grounds and structure surrounding the "key," a springfed 140,000-gallon reservoir that provides water for all spirits made from scratch on-site, are revitalized. Newton said that spring water is essential in pre-fermentation as it filters out iron and imparts calcium and magnesium, which react with the yeast. Science aside, the reservoir is an absolutely breathtaking spot to sip and savor the beauty of the natural and built environment. Today the distillery makes its own vodka, gin, whiskey, and bourbon, all originating from a proprietary sweet mash. Castle & Key's first batch of bourbon was laid down in December 2016 and is expected to be released in the spring of 2022. While production has increased to the point where the botanicals are grown offsite for their vapor-infused gin, including seasonal blends, there is a solid commitment to sourcing raw materials locally, including nonGMO corn and wheat. Newton said they are experimenting with
