Castle & Key Distillery – Historic Bourbon Elevated in Millville, KY 🥃

📍 Millville, Kentucky – Former Old Taylor Distillery (est. 1887)

Perched atop Kentucky’s limestone hills, Castle & Key Distillery is one of the most visually striking bourbon destinations on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Built on the restored grounds of the historic Old Taylor Distillery, Castle & Key blends 19th-century architectural grandeur with modern distilling precision.

Here, bourbon is crafted with patience, balance, and respect for place. Limestone-rich spring water, seasonal climate shifts, and careful barrel aging converge to create spirits that honor heritage while embracing innovation.

🥃 Bourbon Tours & Experiences

Castle & Key offers immersive, hands-on bourbon experiences designed to showcase craft, terroir, and barrel-driven flavor.

Castle & Key Distillery Tour – From Mash to Barrel

⏱ 1–1.5 hours | Reservations recommended

A comprehensive exploration of bourbon production inside Kentucky’s iconic distillery castle:

  • See fermentation and distillation operating beneath 1800s stone masonry

  • Learn how mash bills, yeast selection, and fermentation timing influence bourbon structure and mouthfeel

  • Observe copper pot-column hybrid stills designed for precision and character

  • Explore barrel-aging strategies, warehouse microclimates, and maturation timelines

  • Walk the historic grounds, springhouse, courtyard, and botanical trail

The tour concludes with a guided tasting of Small Batch Bourbon, Restoration Rye, and a seasonal or limited expression—directly connecting Old Taylor’s legacy to Castle & Key’s modern bourbon vision.

Botanical & Seasonal Spirits Experience – Terroir in Every Pour

📅 Spring–Fall | Reservations recommended

Dive into how estate-grown botanicals and seasonal influences shape spirit character:

  • Tour the distillery gardens that supply botanicals for gin and cocktails

  • Explore how botanical balance complements bourbon structure

  • Sample seasonal expressions and garden-inspired cocktails

  • Includes guided tasting flight and seasonal cocktail voucher

Perfect for bourbon lovers seeking a multi-dimensional Kentucky whiskey experience.

Single Barrel & Rickhouse Tasting – Barrel-by-Barrel Bourbon

📅 Limited availability | Premium experience | Advance booking required

For enthusiasts who want to taste bourbon straight from the source:

  • Enter aging warehouses to study barrel placement, char, and proof evolution

  • Sample single barrel bourbon directly from the cask

  • Learn how mash bill, barrel char, and warehouse conditions create depth, spice, and oak integration

  • Select barrels may be available exclusively onsite

Every barrel tells a story—and this experience lets you taste it fully.

🥃 Castle & Key Bourbon Portfolio

Every Castle & Key expression reflects intentional blending, patient aging, and site-driven flavor:

  • Small Batch Bourbon – Balanced with vanilla, honeyed oak, toasted grain, and warm spice

  • Single Barrel Bourbon – Expressive, often higher proof, showcasing barrel individuality

  • Restoration Rye – Structured, peppery, citrus-forward, and bold

  • Roots of Ruin Gin – Estate-grown botanicals and precise distillation

  • Sacred Spring Vodka – Soft, clean, crafted with limestone-rich Kentucky water

Each bottle is a testament to heritage bourbon, modern craftsmanship, and terroir-driven flavor.

🌳 Explore the Historic Castle Grounds

Castle & Key’s campus is as much a destination as the bourbon itself:

  • Historic springhouse and European-inspired courtyard

  • Botanical gardens supporting spirits and cocktails

  • Walkable rickhouses and stone architecture perfect for photography

  • Cocktail bar and tasting room serving bourbon-forward drinks and distillery-exclusive releases

The distillery is a visual and sensory journey, combining Kentucky bourbon heritage with modern hospitality.

🏛 History Restored, Bourbon Reimagined

Founded in 1887 by E.H. Taylor Jr., the Old Taylor Distillery pioneered bourbon quality standards and early distillery tourism. After decades of abandonment post-Prohibition, the site was meticulously restored and reopened as Castle & Key in 2016. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, the property preserves its architectural and cultural significance while producing world-class bourbon.

🕰️ Plan Your Visit

  • Open year-round

  • Daily tours, tastings, and experiences available

  • Grounds accessible during business hours

  • Reservations recommended for tours and premium experiences

Bourbon Where Past Meets Present

At Castle & Key Distillery, bourbon isn’t rushed—it’s elevated. From limestone water and historic stone walls to copper stills and patient barrel aging, every sip is rooted in history and crafted for today.

Come for the castle. Stay for the barrels. Leave with bourbon that embodies heritage, precision, and Kentucky craftsmanship. 🥃