A group of us head to Keeneland each April to watch the ponies take our money and to make some distillery visits. I know the Kentucky trip is always a popular one for Dawg fans. I've made it a handful of times. The trip has that Venn diagram sweet spot for us - Georgia Football, bourbon tastings, and good food!
All that being said, I wanted to share a couple new spots we found the last two trips we made.
Spring of 2023 we were finishing up at Woodford, and ventured a couple miles down the road along Glenns Creek to Castle & Key. Originally built by none other than Col. Edmund Hayes Taylor Jr., it quickly became a very popular stop. And not just for the spirits, but also the beauty of the land as well as the buildings themselves. But like with so many distilleries, the government got in the way in 1920 and Prohibition saw the distillery's doors close.
After nearly a century of some other failed ventures and plenty of decline and decay, it was rediscovered in 2012 by Will Arvin. Despite it's caved in rooves and dilapidated architecture, Arvin saw its inner beauty. By 2018, it had re-opened its doors and was a full functioning distillery again. They have a great tour and delicious cocktails. I'm not a fan of gin, but theirs is the most unique version (non-piney) I've ever tasted. The bourbon is coming along, as it just recently hit their gift shop. But I like the rye, which I believe they started selling in 2020.
Great stop for history buffs and those that just wanna sit on a relaxing day and sip a cocktail. Castle & Key opens on Friday and Saturday at 10:30, close at 5:00. On Sunday they open at 11:00.
Then last year we found Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., previously known as Three Boys Farm. I love the history of Maker's Mark, Woodford and now Castle & Key's grounds, buildings, and whiskey. And Buffalo Trace is always a must, especially if they're shelving one of those rare ones you need stock on.
Admittedly, the tour at Whiskey Thief is not nearly as deep an experience at those others. But the views, the food truck, some live music, great bar, the views! This place also stands out for an experience you can't get anywhere else. Sure, you can pay for a customized bottle at Woodford. You can buy a bottle and dip it in that red wax at Maker's.
But have you every thieved your own bottle of whiskey?
And the whiskey is good! They do a good job of going through their flavor profiles and how they "build" different tastes. Which is good for both newcomers and experienced whiskey afficionados so that everyone can buy the bottle they want. You can grab one off the shelf, or tell them you want to fill it with a thief and get the full experience.
Whiskey Thief is open Friday and Saturday 10-5 and they open at 11 on Sundays.
I'm unable to go this year, but if we were we'd hit BT early Friday (hopefully for some Wellers), then Woodford, Castle & Key, then finish the day at Whiskey Thief, which is still in Frankfort about 20 minutes away. Nice long tailgate on Saturday, before hitting Maker's Mark down in Loretto on the way home.
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