Spirits of optimism - a tasting event

Frankfort, KY

Historic Old Taylor Distillery 

At Castle and Key, we think a great drink should do more than comfort, it should  challenge conventions and delight palate.

Taking up Colonel Taylor’s sensibilities for excellence, we source local ingredients to inspire our product. We make everything that we sell from carefully selected grains. We choose to do things the thoughtful way – even though it's not the easy way – because waiting to sell the spirits we make is worth it.

We are reimagining how Kentucky spirits are presented to the world. We invite you to join us and be a part of our story.

Ashville, Ohio 

2023 Craft Distillery Of The Year

M&O Spirits has recently achieved an extraordinary milestone by being named the “Craft Distillery of the Year” by the prestigious John Barleycorn Awards.

This accolade is a testament to our distillery’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and craftsmanship in the production of our spirits.

Our meticulous attention to detail and use of high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients, we strive to continually set the bar high in the craft spirits industry.

This recognition by the John Barleycorn Awards, a highly respected authority in the spirits world, underscores the distillery’s status as a leader in creating exceptional, handcrafted spirits that resonate with both connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts alike.

Louisville, KY

 Ryan Cecil and Kenny Coleman are the creators of Bourbon Pursuit, the #1 whiskey podcast and the proclaimed “Official Podcast of Bourbon”. They learned everything about the whiskey business through 10 years of interviews and thousands of hours of candid conversations with industry experts. This unique opportunity led them to go on an adventure to find the best flavors possible. Pursuit Spirits didn’t take the conventional or easy path, instead they employed a modern approach by partnering with multiple award-winning distilleries to become masters at the next evolution in American Whiskey… blending. 

Loretto, KY

 As the world's first premium bourbon, Maker's Mark changed the industry in 1953. 

 Red Winter Wheat  changed the way we think of bourbon, all because one man changed the way he thought about making it. Bill Samuels, Sr., simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker's Mark® is made with soft red winter wheat instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon that's smooth and balanced.  

Bill found his ideal mash bill in the kitchen, cleverly testing mash bills through bread in order to quickly test recipes without distilling and aging. It's the red winter wheat that imparts the front-of-palate sweetness that Maker's® is known for.

Clermont, KY

 By the late 1700s, German, Scottish and Irish settlers were making rye whiskey in Western Pennsylvania. With government incentives to move west and grow corn, many moved to the Kentucky region. Among them was Jacob Beam who used his father's whiskey recipe to distill corn into a new, sweeter kind of whiskey. And just like that, our bourbon was born. 

 As the First Family of Bourbon, we were there when it all began. But we’ve never been the type to rest on our laurels. Always innovating, always taking bourbon to new heights—this is the Jim Beam way. On our 225-year anniversary, we have no intention of doing things any differently. Even as we sit here writing our history, the next generation is busy following in the footsteps of all those who came before them—learning the ropes from the ground up. But, more importantly, learning to redefine them in new and innovative ways.
For a taste of the what the next generation will bring, we invite you to give Little Book a try, that is, if you can get your hands on a bottle. Blended by Fred Noe’s son, Freddie, both iterations of this limited-edition whiskey have sold out soon after their release. 

Lebanon, KY

Distilling History is in our DNA.

Stephen Beam, our Founder and Master Distiller, has
a long lineage steeped in whiskey history. On one side, his great-great-grandfather was renowned bourbon pioneer Joseph Washington Dant. On the other, his
great-grandfather was Minor Case Beam — the eldest
son of James Beam. For every generation since,
whiskey hasn’t been a business, but a calling.

With a family of products that each pay tribute to his rich heritage, Stephen has devoted his life to ensuring the next chapter is written from our humble distillery.