Castle & Key restores 130-year-old Kentucky distillery

American spirits producer Castle & Key is preparing to open the doors to its newly restored distillery, housed in a 130-year-old castle in Kentucky.

Castle & Key Distillery is housed in a 130-year-old castle

Built in 1887 by distiller Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr, the European-inspired castle and its grounds had been abandoned for 40 years before Castle & Key founding partners Will Arvin and Wes Murry purchased the site in 2014.

The pair began restoring the castle, with the aim of transforming it into an immersive distillery experience.

Arvin said: “For the last four years we’ve worked incredibly hard to create a destination where discerning tastemakers can experience history in motion.

“Many people thought this day would never come, but we’re proud that we had the courage to keep pursuing this dream.”

From 19 September, distillery guests will be able to experience each step of the distilling process, tour the grounds of the castle – including its Botanical Trail, visit what is thought to be the longest maturation warehouse in the world – which has the capacity to store 35,000 barrels – and visit the tasting room to sample the distillery’s spirits.

“As Castle & Key’s master distiller, I’ve had the chance to resurrect the heart of these hallowed grounds and to truly create a unique and thoughtful brand that will honour history in a modern and relevant way,” said Castle & Key master distiller, Marianne Eaves.

“Being here from the start allowed me to work with our contractors to ensure that we built a distillery that suited the products we had envisioned. This includes our vision to create a uniquely local gin and vodka, using the same locally grown grains, while also including locally grown botanicals, many of which are grown onsite.”

Castle & Key will launch its core range of products, including rye, gin and vodka expressions, in 2019. The distillery is currently ageing casks of Bourbon for release at a later date.