Castle and Key Sacred Spring Vodka 750ML

Castle and Key Sacred Spring Vodka 750ML is a Kentucky-made, non-chill-filtered vodka bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This triple-distilled spirit earned a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, validating its unusual approach of distilling vodka from a traditional bourbon whiskey mashbill through three separate copper stills.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA  |  Grain Vodka (Bourbon Mashbill)  |  Distillery: Castle & Key Distillery

Production & Heritage

Castle & Key Distillery operates from the restored grounds of the historic Old Taylor Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, a site originally built by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. in 1887. Sacred Spring Vodka begins life as the distillery's bourbon whiskey newmake — a grain bill of 73% white corn, 10% rye, and 17% malted barley — then undergoes an intensive triple-distillation process. The spirit first passes through a 50-foot Vendome copper column still, then a 600-gallon copper pot still, and finally a custom-built Vendome vodka still designed to push the distillate to its highest proof and purity. The vodka is proofed down with limestone-rich water drawn from the distillery's own Springhouse, and it is deliberately left non-chill-filtered to preserve its full body and mouthfeel.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light and subtly sweet on the nose, opening with gentle cashew and a soft citrus brightness. There is an underlying grain sweetness that hints at its bourbon-mashbill origin.

Taste: The entry is clean and citrus-forward, with lemon and light orange peel giving way to a mid-palate that develops vanilla bean richness. A faint note of buttered toast emerges toward the peak, lending unexpected depth for a vodka. The non-chill-filtered character contributes a noticeable weight and creaminess across the palate.

Finish: Silky and medium in length, with a lingering sweetness and a trace of roasted grain. The mouthfeel remains rich through the close, distinguishing it from the thinner tails of many conventional vodkas.

How to Drink Sacred Spring Vodka

Neat or slightly chilled is the best way to appreciate the grain character and creamy texture that non-chill filtration preserves. The spirit also takes well to a single large ice cube, which opens up additional citrus aromatics as it slowly dilutes.

• Vodka Martini: The corn-driven body and vanilla undertones fill out a dry Martini with more dimension than a neutral-grain vodka provides.
• Moscow Mule: Its subtle sweetness and citrus notes complement ginger beer without disappearing behind it.
• Espresso Martini: The buttered-toast quality and silky texture integrate naturally with coffee liqueur, adding weight to the cocktail.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers curious about how a whiskey mashbill translates into vodka
• Gifting to someone who values small-batch American craft spirits
• Hosting a tasting flight that compares grain-forward vodkas against neutral-grain styles
• Upgrading a home Martini where the vodka needs to carry its own weight

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sacred Spring Vodka taste like? It leads with clean citrus and transitions into vanilla bean and buttered toast, finishing with a silky, lingering sweetness. The bourbon mashbill and non-chill filtration give it noticeably more body and grain character than most vodkas.

How does Sacred Spring Vodka compare to Tito's Handmade Vodka? Tito's is made from 100% corn and column-distilled six times for a deliberately neutral profile, while Sacred Spring uses a three-grain bourbon mashbill (73% corn, 10% rye, 17% malted barley) and is triple-distilled across three different copper stills. Sacred Spring's non-chill-filtered approach also retains more texture and flavor than Tito's cleaner, leaner style.

Is Sacred Spring Vodka good for sipping neat? Yes — the non-chill-filtered body and grain complexity make it one of the more rewarding American vodkas to drink on its own, especially for drinkers who enjoy tasting the raw ingredients in a spirit.

Where is Sacred Spring Vodka made? It is distilled at Castle & Key Distillery, located at 4445 McCracken Pike in Frankfort, Kentucky, on the restored grounds of the historic Old Taylor Distillery site originally established in 1887.

What foods pair well with Sacred Spring Vodka? Smoked salmon or cured fish accentuate the citrus notes. Fresh oysters on the half shell complement the mineral quality from the limestone water. Mild, creamy cheeses like burrata mirror the vodka's silky texture. Lightly seasoned grilled corn plays off the white-corn base of the mashbill. Dark chocolate with sea salt echoes the vanilla and toasted-grain character.

What sizes does Sacred Spring Vodka come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle at 80 proof.

Is Sacred Spring Vodka worth the price? Sacred Spring positions as a premium craft vodka, and its triple-distillation process, bourbon-grade mashbill, and non-chill-filtered production justify the step up from mass-market brands for drinkers who want flavor and texture rather than pure neutrality.

Why Sacred Spring Vodka?

Most vodka producers aim for the cleanest, most neutral spirit possible; Castle & Key takes the opposite path by starting with a bourbon whiskey recipe and preserving its character through non-chill filtration. The 2020 Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirms that this approach delivers measurable quality, not just a marketing story. Triple distillation across three distinct copper stills — column, pot, and a custom vodka still — is a resource-intensive process rarely seen at this price tier. For anyone who has dismissed vodka as flavorless, Sacred Spring is a compelling argument that the category still has room for genuine craft and grain-driven complexity.