In the rolling hills of Kentucky, where whiskey runs as deep as the limestone springs, Castle & Key Distillery has uncorked something special: its 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon. This release, hitting shelves in 2025, is more than just another bottle to add to the bar cart—it’s a testament to patience, craft, and a storied past brought back to life. With a price tag of $39.99 and a trio of gold medals already under its belt, this bourbon is turning heads for all the right reasons. Here’s why it’s worth seeking out.
Castle & Key’s journey to this moment started back in 2014, when the distillery’s team took on the daunting task of reviving the Old Taylor Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Built in 1887 by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., a legend in the bourbon world, the site had crumbled into disrepair after Prohibition and decades of neglect. The limestone castle, springhouse, and gardens that once made it the birthplace of bourbon tourism were nearly lost to time. But co-founder Will Arvin saw potential in the ruins, and with a vision to blend history with modern craftsmanship, Castle & Key was reborn.
Fast forward to 2022, when the distillery released its first proprietary bourbon in nearly 50 years—a 4-year-old expression that marked a new chapter. Now, in 2025, the 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon shows how far they’ve come. This isn’t just an older version of the same recipe; it’s a richer, more complex spirit that reflects years of careful aging and blending. “The Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon 6-Year-Old release is more than a milestone in age,” says Brett Connors, the distillery’s lead blender. “It represents our philosophy of building quality from the ground up. Every drop of our spirits has been made within the castle walls, from still to barrel to bottle.”
The bourbon itself is a blend of 73% white corn, 10% rye, and 17% malted barley, bottled at a cask-strength 101 proof (50.5% ABV). That proof gives it a bold kick, but it’s still smooth enough to sip neat or on the rocks. Tasting notes paint a vivid picture: the nose opens with inviting aromas of graham cracker, butterscotch, red apple, honeysuckle, and a hint of clove. On the palate, it delivers molasses, golden raisin, toffee, and orange zest, with a touch of cinnamon and praline rounding things out. The finish lingers with shortbread, candied orange peel, cacao nib, and a subtle white pepper spice. The ASCOT Awards panel summed it up well, praising its “enhanced depth, consistency, and complexity” with a “brown sugar and graham cracker nose” and a “chewy mouthfeel” featuring cranberry and pomegranate notes.
What makes this bourbon stand out is its balance. It’s got the warmth and spice you’d expect from a Kentucky bourbon, but there’s a sweetness and fruitiness that keep it approachable. At $39.99 for a 750ml bottle, it’s a steal for a cask-strength, award-winning spirit. In fact, it’s already racked up gold medals from three major competitions in 2025: the American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOT) Awards, the New York International Spirits Competition, and the International Wine & Spirits Competition. That kind of recognition doesn’t come easy, and it speaks to the care Castle & Key pours into every step of the process.
The distillery’s commitment to doing things the hard way sets it apart. Every batch is crafted from scratch on-site, using the same fermentation tanks from the Old Taylor days and grains sourced with precision. The team doesn’t cut corners, and they don’t aim for uniformity—each batch is selected for quality, not identical flavor. That means every release has its own personality, a feature that bourbon hunters will appreciate. The 6-year-old expression, for instance, shows off the maturity that comes from extra time in the barrel, especially in Castle & Key’s unique Warehouse B, a massive brick structure that holds 33,000 barrels and keeps aging conditions cool and steady.
For those looking to get their hands on a bottle, the 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon is available at the distillery in Frankfort, the Castle & Key 502 retail store in Louisville, and online at castleandkey.com. The distillery itself is worth a visit, too. The restored grounds, complete with historic architecture and sprawling gardens designed by Jon Carloftis, make it a bucket-list stop for whiskey fans. It’s not just about the bourbon—it’s about soaking in the history of a place that’s been making spirits since before most of today’s distilleries were even a thought.
This release isn’t just a win for Castle & Key; it’s a nod to Kentucky’s whiskey heritage and a reminder that good things take time. Whether you’re sipping it neat, mixing it into a classic old fashioned, or sharing it with friends over a backyard fire pit, this bourbon delivers a flavor profile that’s as rich as the story behind it. At under $40, it’s a bottle that punches well above its weight, offering a taste of tradition and innovation in every pour.
