About
Castle & Key Distillery is a landmark-style destination just outside Frankfort, Kentucky, where the visitor experience is as much about place as it is about spirits. Built around the restored Old Taylor Distillery property, the site pairs historic stonework and castle-like architecture with landscaped grounds, water views along Glenns Creek, and a pace that encourages visitors to linger. Guests often come for the atmosphere as much as the tasting, since the property blends Kentucky bourbon heritage with thoughtful hospitality, including outdoor spaces and a mix of indoor and open-air settings. In the heart of bourbon country, Castle & Key stands out for delivering a distillery visit that feels scenic and immersive, with a strong sense of history in the buildings, the ruins, and the carefully revived grounds. It is an ideal stop for travelers who want a tour and tasting, but also want a destination that feels like an experience even before the first sip.
History
The Castle & Key story begins with one of Kentucky’s most visually iconic distillery sites, the former Old Taylor Distillery, created in an era when bourbon leaders built statements as much as facilities. After decades of silence and changing fortunes, the property entered a new chapter when it was acquired and carefully restored with the goal of reopening it as a working distillery and a meaningful visitor destination. That restoration focused on preserving the site’s recognizable architecture while rebuilding it for modern production and hospitality standards. Over the years, the project evolved from a revival effort into a full brand identity, connecting the site’s historic legacy to a new portfolio of spirits and a modern approach to hosting guests. Today, the distillery’s history is told through the grounds themselves, where visitors can see how the past was preserved, what was rebuilt, and how the property’s original character continues to shape the experience.
Notoriety
Castle & Key is widely known for being one of the most striking distillery destinations in Kentucky, drawing visitors who want a tour that feels visually memorable, not just educational. The combination of castle architecture, historic ruins, and landscaped grounds gives it a sense of arrival that is rare even in bourbon country. Its notoriety is also tied to the experience design, where a tasting is paired with a setting that invites photos, walks, and time outdoors, especially along the botanical areas and water views near Glenns Creek. On the spirits side, Castle & Key has built recognition through a portfolio that includes vodka, gin, and whiskey, giving visitors multiple styles to explore depending on their preferences. For many travelers, it lands in the “must visit” category because it feels like a full destination, part bourbon history, part scenic grounds, and part modern hospitality, which makes it easy to pair with other nearby distilleries in the Frankfort and Versailles area.
experiences
Cocktail Classes
Duration:
N/A
Price:
N/A
At this time, the distillery does not offer any cocktail classes.
Tours & Tastings
Duration:
1 Hr
Price:
$30 - $505
Castle & Key Distillery invites you to tour the beautifully restored Old Taylor site, then settle in for guided tastings and cocktails in the capital.
amenities
Cocktail Bar
Event Spaces
Food Options
Gift Shop
Scenic Location
Special Events
nearby
Distilleries
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Woodford Reserve
Glenns Creek Distillery
Things To Do
Explore Downtown Frankfort
Kentucky State Capital
Juniper Hill Park
Food & Drink
The Brown Barrel
Cypress & Oak
The Stave
Stay
The Delegate
The St. Clair
The Ashbrook Hotel