Castle & Key Restoration Rye 2020 (Batch 2)

The historic Colonel Taylor distillery sat vacant for years before new ownership bought it in 2014, revitalized it, and renamed it Castle and Key. The distillery uses water from three active springs nearby. It's located on Glenn's Creek, close to other distilleries like Old Crow and Woodford Reserve. Buffalo Trace is also a short drive away. This area is renowned for bourbon production. Castle and Key began distilling about three years ago, with Restoration Rye being their first whiskey release. They've also put out vodka and gin, which have been available for some time. While I don't drink vodka, friends who do have praised it. I've tried their gin and prefer other brands. Their bourbon is expected to be a significant product, but we'll have to wait at least another year. So, how is the rye? The label states three years, and the reserved nose confirms this. It appears thin in the glass, but surprisingly, the alcohol is subdued. I appreciate ryes for their aroma, but this one is underwhelming. Adding a bit of water opens it slightly, but only muted, underdeveloped barrel and rye scents are present. The palate offers young rye, with spicy and grassy notes. I left the glass for an hour while running an errand. The nose has improved considerably, showing notes of custard, nutmeg, and apple. The palate has also evolved; the grassy notes are gone, and the texture has become more oily. Custard is present, along with faint baking spices. A subtle grassiness remains on the finish, but it's nicely dry. The finish is not particularly strong, but I haven't yet been impressed by a rye under 4-5 years of age. Future releases will likely be better with more age.

A friend brought this over with its sibling bottle. Both were acquired directly from the distillery at the location itself, despite challenging road conditions. If you saw my review of batch 1, you might not expect much. I certainly didn't. I was quite surprised in the end. Without knowing their grain recipe, I'd guess the same spirit was put into two different barrel types: batch 1 with heavy char, and this one with unspecified char but toasting. This is likely just speculation, but let me elaborate. This has the same caraway and lemongrass base as batch 1, but it's much more balanced. Starting with the nose, there's noticeable vanilla, almost like brown sugar. There's also a hint of apricot, reminiscent of a certain Kentucky bourbon. The palate begins with light, cooked caramel, then caraway, followed by a brief taste of candy cigarettes, before returning to a slightly sweet, buttery note. My guess is some vanillin was extracted due to the barrel toast or perhaps the entry proof. So, this is good. Potentially even worth thirty dollars. I'd happily drink this again but won't actively search for it due to limited shelf space. I can definitively say that batch 2 is the clear winner here.

Drank neat, from the neck pour. Batch 2. This bottle's design is impressive! For $35, it's a nice glass with a heavy top, a front label indicating the year of distillation, and a cool neck tag. Honestly, I can't believe the packaging didn't add $5 to the price. I've been buying Castle and Key vodka to support them, but at $35, my expectations for this rye are not high. I'm pleased to see the 99 proof. Now that's rye. That's straight rye bread. The most straightforward rye in a rye whiskey. Slight vanilla and very subtle clove and citrus undertones. Not much else. Fresh rye bread. The mouthfeel is nice. It's not immediately inviting or creamy, but it's not thin either. Spicy on the tongue. Lots of pepper, a hint of mint. Transitions into a rye bread punch. The finish brings back the vanilla and a hint of orange. The finish, once the rye subsides, is its best quality. A heavy rye aftertaste. Strangest rye. It's essentially just rye bread. No dill. No black licorice. No bourbon characteristics or enough sweetness to balance. Just rye bread. It's disappointing, but I won't dismiss them based on this. It's just not an immediate hit like New Riff, Peerless, or Wilderness Trail.

The oily texture of this rye is quite pleasing and inviting. The rye character is prominent and works well with the citrus and sweetness found at the start of the palate. The nose is full of vanilla! I enjoy this expression from Castle and Key every time I have a dram! Well done! What a difference a year makes!

Nose: brown sugar, subtle spearmint, light spice, black pepper, and cinnamon Taste: Medium sweetness, tobacco, light char, baked cinnamon, a touch of oiliness Overall: Substantial fruit on the palate, well-balanced, an interesting mineral note on the finish, medium-long aftertaste.

Nose: A slight burn but not pronounced. Notes of baking spice, apple, and nuttiness. Taste: Very smooth, with an initial heat that quickly fades and falls flat. Fruity but not overpowering; certainly not a spicy rye if that's what you're looking for.