Castle & Key Celebrates Spring with the Opening of Taylorton Station

Taylorton Station’s bar seats 10 for the Curated Cocktail Experience. Photo Courtesy Castle & Key.
Taylorton Station’s bar seats 10 for the Curated Cocktail Experience. Photo Courtesy Castle & Key.

Castle & Key is now inviting guests to enjoy the beautifully restored distillery with the reopening of Taylorton Station, and you don’t have to sign up for a distillery tour to get in on the fun.

Last week, Castle & Key welcomed their first tours at Taylorton—a century-old hub of hospitality, built in 1910. Colonel E. H. Taylor constructed this train station as the welcome-point for guests arriving by train at what was then Old Taylor Distillery, which first received guests in 1887.

Taylorton Station is now home to the new Curated Cocktail Experience, where those who want to marvel at mixology can sip clear spirits showcased to bring out different botanical flavors.

The Curated Cocktail Experience guides guests through the development and distillation of the distillery’s Restoration Release Gin. Guests can choose two of 14 cocktails designed to highlight herbs and botanicals used in gin recipe. This is an intimate experience, with space for just 10 at the bar. It’s 45 minutes long and doesn’t include a tour of the full distillery, so it’s perfect for those wanting to drink in a little extra knowledge during their time.

Wine and charcuterie plates served up at Counter 17. Photo Courtesy Castle & Key.

If you haven’t planned ahead for the experience, simply step around the corner to order at Counter 17 instead. This laid-back walk up window has a fantastic wine list, local beers, charcuterie and cheese boards, and – best of all – batched cocktails with Castle & Key’s vodka or gin. Guests can take their snacks to go and are welcome anywhere on the public grounds.

Counter 17 is open to the public without any appointment, as is the grounds area around the spring house and the botanical trail. This is a great way to spend time before or after your tour, or to get a feel for the distillery if you’re just passing through. Click here to book your experience or find business hours for Castle & Key.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.