Bright summer fruits | Honey | Caramel | Graham cracker | Light & sweet

Caramel | Baking spices | Golden raisin | Light citrus | Bright & lively

Cinnamon | Toffee | Graham cracker | Orange peel | Butterscotch

In July 2025, Castle & Key announced the release of their latest Small Batch Bourbon. Located on the historic former site of the Old Taylor Distillery, Castle & Key began distilling again in 2016 and later released Small Batch Bourbon in 2022. Compared to the original version, the newest batch comes with two additional years of aging, increasing from 4 years to 6, and an increase in proof from 98 to 101. Surprisingly, the company shaved $10 off the suggested price, a rare move in the bourbon industry.

Castle & Key Distillery’s original batch was a bright, lively bourbon, and their latest batch follows the same trend. On the nose, bright summer fruits, honey, and caramel are grounded by graham cracker. The palate is bright and lively, with baking spices, golden raisin, light citrus, and caramel. Cinnamon spice spills over into the finish and is met with toffee, graham cracker, orange peel, and a hint of butterscotch.

The bourbon has really progressed from its original form, but maintained its unique underlying flavor profile and liveliness that’s most characterized by the summer fruit, citrus, and orange notes mixed in throughout its sip. The age tempers them a bit, bringing deeper notes of graham cracker, caramel, and toffee. Castle & Key Small Batch is a really good bourbon with its own unique style that is an easy recommendation at its new, lower $40 price point.