I love exploring the history of bourbon, a passion reflected in the 150 stops my wife and I have made at 41 unique distilleries over the past 18 months. Living in Central Kentucky, with distilleries all around us, makes this journey easy; many of the state’s 100 distilleries are located within 60 miles of our home. One of our favorites is Castle & Key, which we visit about once a month.
The distillery is especially stunning in the spring and fall, making this column’s timing particularly significant. Be sure to include Castle & Key in your plans for October and November, when the weather is nearly perfect and the foliage is at its peak. Situated along McCracken Pike, it’s just six miles from Frankfort, our state capital, and eight miles from the charming town of Versailles. Additionally, it’s conveniently located midway between Woodford Reserve and Glenns Creek Distilling, both just a couple of miles away.
Where do I begin with Castle & Key? Everything about this place is stunning. Whether you’re sitting outside by the creek, enjoying an upscale lunch from a food truck, walking through the botanical trails designed by Jon Carloftis, relaxing in an Adirondack chair by Glenns Creek, or simply soaking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful grounds, you’re guaranteed a fantastic day.
Don’t miss the craft cocktails from the bar located in Taylorton Station, the beautifully restored train depot on the grounds. While the bar features excellent bourbon cocktails, I highly recommend trying their exceptional gin as well. These gins are served in refreshing drinks that are perfect for a warm summer day or a cool fall afternoon with a slight chill in the air. They typically have local food trucks on-site from Thursday through Sunday, making it an ideal spot for lunch during your visit. The Lexington area has a thriving food truck scene, and we have found considerable innovation among the offerings.
Castle & Key is a relatively new distillery, having opened its doors in 2018. However, the grounds and buildings are anything but new; this was the original location of Colonel E. H. Taylor’s distillery, built in 1887. The current owners purchased the distillery in 2014, and it took four years and several million dollars in renovations to prepare it for its grand reopening. Many historical details of the distillery have been preserved during its reconstruction. The former boiler room is now home to a beautiful and well-stocked gift shop, while the key-shaped springhouse has become a popular attraction, serving as the source of limestone water for distillation.
You can also reserve a private experience through the hospitality team, which is a fantastic opportunity for larger groups to enjoy something not typically available to casual visitors. Reservations aren’t needed for walk-ins. You can grab a cocktail, enjoy Glenns Creek, and explore the grounds at your leisure. Guided tours are limited to adults 21 and older, but public spaces—including the creek, botanical trails, and springhouse—are open to everyone. While many distilleries may not be suitable for children, Castle & Key stands out as a notable exception, offering activities to engage younger visitors.
We have friends from Canada who visit every year, and they always say that a trip to both Castle & Key and Woodford Reserve is a must. Fortunately, the distilleries are only twenty minutes from home and just three miles apart. They are also a short 15-minute drive from Midway, where excellent dining options such as Heirloom, Don Jockey, and Wallace Station await. Don’t overlook these choices.
The base tour, called The Distillery Experience, lasts for one hour and is available from Wednesday through Sunday. You can also book The Tasting Lab experience, which lasts only 30 minutes and is currently offered on Fridays and Sundays in Colonel Taylor’s yeast propagation lab. Additionally, The Last Stop focuses on 20th-century production equipment, much of which has been modified and is still in use today. This tour is offered exclusively on Sundays.
Castle & Key is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Given that this is one of the most popular distillery destinations for tourists, it is advisable to make reservations for tours and experiences early; you can book up to 90 days in advance.
Mark Meade is the author of The Bourbon Journey, a travel guide that highlights our iconic bourbon distilleries and the experience of bourbon tourism. This column serves as a natural extension of the book. All rights reserved. For questions or comments, contact the author at [email protected].
