Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon 2022 (Batch 1)

Hey there, you gloriously unrefined, whiskey-loving weirdos! 👋 So picture this: I’m all set up for a classy, refined, dare I say influencer-level review of Woodford Reserve. The lighting? Chef’s kiss. The camera angle? Movie magic. The phone battery? Oh, it DIED faster than my New Year’s resolutions. 💀📱 While my phone recharged (along with my will to live), I figured — what better way to kill time than to drag my amazing friends, Chris and Gina Fox, the dynamic duo behind the nearly-world-famous podcast “The Riveted” (it’s like NPR for Airstream nerds, but way sexier), into a bourbon flight of fancy? And joining us on this magical booze cruise: the most electrifying woman in distilled entertainment — my smoking hot cougar, Nicole — who somehow lets me be her legally bound life accessory. 🔥💍 Here’s the line-up for this epic sip safari: 1. Buffalo Trace – The gateway bourbon. Reliable. Dependable. Like that friend who always brings ice but never drama. 2. Castle & Key Wheated Small Batch – A smooth criminal with historic charm and a wheaty grin. 3. Maker’s Mark Private Selection – Hand-picked and full of personality. Like if bourbon wore a tuxedo but with no pants. 4. Larceny Barrel Proof – This one hits like a drunken linebacker in a velvet robe. Wheated, wild, and wonderful. 5. Penelope Rio – Dessert in a glass. Like crème brûlée and a piña colada had a baby raised by bourbon monks. And yes, full reviews of the Maker’s and Penelope are already up — because, unlike my phone, those takes survived. 🙌 So pour one out (and then pour it back in), because shenanigans are guaranteed, and someone’s definitely leaving here with a new favorite… or at least a blurry memory of one. And now… lights, camera, bourbon — ACTION! 🎥🥃 Full Video Review: https://youtu.be/zqTnc6EnUBA?si=meWtnbB2H5AqUrIw YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/zqTnc6EnUBA?si=meWtnbB2H5AqUrIw

Nose- Lemon curd and Kellogs Frosted Flakes. Distinct breakfast cornflakes but glazed with vanilla. There is also a dusky white corn. Palate- Cherry tartness and pie crust upon entry that turns a bit sharp. Turns a bit citrusy. Towards the end a hit of black licorice comes in to reveal the youth. Going out it gets a tad bitter. I want something like chocolate, brown sugar, maple, notes that you get from longer aging to balane it and make it more full. It is not quite in there yet. Mouthfeel is a tad thin for 98 proof. Finish- Rather one note. Trickles out on the licorice note and fades into very little warming or after taste except white sweet corn Overall- My expectations were not high. This was after all an iconic distillery's own entry into bourbon again. A young 4 yr old bourbon. In that it has much promise. This batch is not ready yet, but has really nice parts. You can tell Castle and Key is doing things right but that there is no substitute for time. They are 3-4 years behind Yellowstone's own distillate which is now hitting 6-7 years- both distilleries though have got their shit together and will be a force when their barrels hit 8-10 year sweet-spots. This isn't there yet BUT do buy a bottle. Years from know to be able to compare where it was to where it got to will be the real fun!

Aroma- big fruity notes stand out alongside brown sugar. Just layers of sweet fruits here. One of the more fruit forward bourbons I’ve experienced on the nose. Apples, cherries, peaches, and even a berry-like jam. As it opens, more and more cinnamon red-hots starts to come forward. Picking up almost no burn whatsoever. Very impressive aroma to be honest. Hopefully taste follows suit. Taste - First thing that comes to my mind is chocolate and Fruity Pebbles. Wasn’t expecting that. Definitely not as sweet or as complex here compared to the nose. Get the typical brown sugar, vanilla, the oak profile is extremely subtle. Slight touch of apples and honey coming through on the finish with a touch of spice. Overall - Extremely easy sipper here. It’s very smooth, has great balance. solid first batch. Worth a try.

First pop. nose is vanilla and cereal grain and a little sweet berries. A little time and swirl gives it a blood orange hint and honey. Taste is vanilla cream candy (the kind with vanilla cream center and Carmel outer), spices, and roasted almonds on the back of the pallet. Finish is long but not overpowering. Back to an orange zest and and vanilla cream.

This “bourbon” is not bourbon. I get so many conflicting flavors that I’m not sure what im drinking. In all honesty, if the bottle hadn’t been $60+, I would have dumped it. It’s not a good sipper and not a good mixer. The whisky is in opposition to itself. I want to quote Princess Bride and tell everyone to “have fun stormin’ the castle.” But you won’t.

Nice nose beginning with hints of creamy vanilla and cinnamon. Palate is sweet hay (alfalfa) with citrus. Little heat and oily finish. This is nice. It is unique. There is no oak. I think additional aging would make this an absolute hit. I am impressed by this initial batch.