Light syrup | Hint of baking chocolate | White peppercorns | Corn grain | Touch of frosting | Gentle

White peach | Light peppercorn spice | Baking spices | Vanilla | Slightly charred oak | Caramelized sugar | Touch of nougat

Peppercorn spice | Brown sugar | Baking spices | Charred oak | Brown butter | Gentle lingering spice

The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey Chapter 3 is the third release in the company’s the distillery’s limited edition series. The company states that “100 percent of proceeds are donated to scholarship funds to support diversity, inclusion and equity within the distilling industry.” Will Arvin, Co-Founder of Castle & Key states that “the goal of the Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey series is to educate consumers about the diverse history of Kentucky distilling.” This particular chapter is a two barrel blend that features Hickory King Corn. This specific corn varietal is an heirloom grain that used to be more popular in whiskey products a century ago before being overtaken by more modern corn grains. Chapter 3 will comprise a total of 400-420 bottles.

The sip opens on surprisingly gentle scents considering its proof. Light syrup and frosting provide a sweet base, while white peppercorns and corn grain provide more grounding scents. The whiskey embraces its sweeter side as it transitions to the palate, as vanilla, caramelized sugar, and nougat take shape. A white peach note adds a touch of intrigue and is joined by more traditional spice flavors. Ending on a slurry of sweet and spicy notes, the medium-length finish delivers a gentle lingering spice. While the price of this bourbon is outrageously high for the whiskey inside, seeing as 100% of the profits are going towards scholarship funds to support diversity, inclusion, and equity within the distilling industry, it gets a pass. Overall, this is an easy-sipping bourbon from Castle & Key that showcases the progress the distillery is making as they continue to hone their distillation capabilities.

The bourbon in review comes from bottle 084.