Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon 750ML

Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon 750ML is a 7-year-old, 108.2 proof (54.1% ABV) Kentucky bourbon built on an unconventional mashbill of white corn and white winter wheat. This expression earned a Double Platinum medal at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, validating a grain-forward approach that prioritizes mellow sweetness and yeast character over heavy oak influence.

Quick Facts: ABV: 54.1% (108.2 proof)  |  Origin: Frankfort, Kentucky  |  Age: 7 Years  |  Distillery: Castle & Key (Historic Old Taylor Distillery)

Production & Heritage

Castle & Key operates out of the restored Old Taylor Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky — a landmark originally built by Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. in 1887. The distillery's wheated bourbon uses a mashbill of 73% white corn, 10% white winter wheat, and 17% malted barley, a notable departure from convention on multiple fronts: white corn and white wheat replace the standard yellow corn and red winter wheat found in most Kentucky bourbons, and the malted barley percentage sits well above the industry-typical 10%. The production process relies on sweet mash fermentation conducted at low temperatures, with a low barrel entry proof designed to let the grain and yeast character develop more fully across seven years of maturation. The result is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Oatmeal raisin cookie and vanilla frosting lead, followed by baked peach and candied pear. Underneath, softer layers of orange peel, lilac, and gentle cinnamon emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is remarkably creamy for its proof — almost silky — opening into almond pastry, butterscotch, and macaroon. Mid-palate, baking chocolate and dried cranberry surface alongside clove and subtle floral tones. The texture belies the 108.2 proof, carrying weight without aggression.

Finish: Long and warming, anchored by raw brown sugar and roasted walnut. As it fades, leather and French toast linger, leaving a pleasant sweetness that persists well after the sip.

How to Drink Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength

At 108.2 proof, this bourbon rewards patience — pour it neat and let it breathe for several minutes, or add a few drops of water to open up the pastry and stone fruit notes without diminishing structure. The cask strength also makes it a powerhouse in cocktails. An Old Fashioned benefits from the butterscotch and brown sugar depth, standing up to bitters and dilution with ease. A Boulevardier pairs the bourbon's baking chocolate and clove against sweet vermouth and Campari for a rich, layered drink. A Paper Plane highlights the lighter citrus and floral aromatics that might otherwise stay in the background.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring wheated expressions beyond the Weller and Maker's Mark families
• Gifting to a whiskey collector who values unconventional mashbills and craft distillery releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing white corn versus yellow corn bourbon profiles
• Building cask-strength cocktails where proof and flavor complexity both matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength taste like? It delivers rich butterscotch, almond pastry, and baking chocolate with a creamy, almost silky mouthfeel that masks its 108.2 proof. The finish is long and warming, defined by brown sugar, roasted walnut, and French toast.

How does Castle & Key Wheated compare to Weller Antique 107? Both are wheated bourbons bottled near or at barrel proof, but Castle & Key uses white corn and white wheat instead of the standard yellow corn and red winter wheat in Weller's mashbill. Reviewers have noted that while Castle & Key does not surpass Weller Antique 107 in direct comparison, it presents a distinctly different grain character with more emphasis on pastry and floral notes.

Is Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its 54.1% ABV, the bourbon's creamy texture and sweet grain profile make it approachable neat, especially with a short rest in the glass or a few drops of water.

Where is Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength made? It is distilled and aged at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, which operates out of the historic Old Taylor Distillery originally established in 1887.

What foods pair well with Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength? Pecan pie or butter pecan ice cream mirror the bourbon's roasted nut and brown sugar notes. Dark chocolate truffles complement the baking chocolate mid-palate. Aged Gouda offers a caramelized richness that harmonizes with the butterscotch. Smoked pork belly or glazed ham plays off the warming spice and sweetness on the finish. Stone fruit desserts like peach cobbler echo the baked peach aromatics.

What sizes does Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength worth the price? It positions as a premium craft bourbon within the wheated cask-strength category, competing against widely distributed labels like Maker's Mark Cask Strength and the Weller line. The unconventional white grain mashbill, seven years of age, and Double Platinum ASCOT recognition place it firmly in the serious-sipping tier, offering genuine distinctiveness rather than incremental variation.

Why Castle & Key Wheated Cask Strength?

What sets this bourbon apart from the crowded wheated field is the deliberate use of white corn and white winter wheat — grains chosen specifically for their mellow character, allowing yeast-driven flavors to assert themselves in ways that yellow corn and red wheat typically overpower. The 17% malted barley, nearly double the Kentucky standard, adds a biscuity richness that anchors the pastry and confectionery notes throughout the palate. Seven years of aging at a low barrel entry proof builds complexity without the tannic bite that plagues many cask-strength releases of similar age. The Double Platinum from the 2025 ASCOT Awards confirms that this is not simply a novel experiment — it is a bourbon that performs at the highest competitive level while charting its own course.