Back to Old Taylor Distillery: Becoming Castle and Key, Part 2

Castle and Key Distillery
One of the most stunning destinations on the distillery grounds is the keyhole-shaped
springhouse that stores water from adjacent Glenns Creek and surrounding land.  This water
 is used to make Castle and Key's bourbon, gin, and vodka.

1822 gazebo waiting for repairs

Brick walls and exposed beams highlight the event space.

A peak inside what remains of the original bottling facility.  The roof is gone, but
note that some of the old curtains survive.

The damaged roof of another building.

Old Taylor became National Distillers

One wall & many stones remain of another building on the grounds.

Remnants of the fallen building have been fashioned into garden beds that will produce herbs used to flavor some of
Castle and Key's products.  At the end of the herb gardens is the entrance to a huge storage building.

Already in use, this storage building is nearly as long as two football fields.

The moat that surrounds the castle where the distilling process takes place.

Buried beneath several feet of mud and brush was Old Taylor's sunken garden.  The fountain, walkways, and small
outbuildings are original, and famed Kentucky gardener, Jon Carloftis, restored the garden.

Castle and Key is scheduled to open to the public in the fall of 2018, and I can't
wait to come back!

Back to Old Taylor Distillery: Becoming Castle and Key (Part 1)

Castle and Key Distillery, Woodford County
My husband and I took the "restoration experience tour" yesterday and loved it!  

The transformation of the Old Taylor Distillery into Castle and Key is quite remarkable.  We noted a careful,
thoughtful renovation with a sharp eye for detail and respect for the past.

Part of the tour shows visitors the process of making bourbon.

The grain and other ingredients are mixed together in huge vats.

Here's a batch that is heating up and bubbling with the yeast added.

Remnants of the stoves once used to heat the bourbon are being preserved  and can be seen as you
enter the gift shop.

The gift shop.  The shelves are made of reclaimed wood from the property.

The ceiling above the gift shop allows lots of natural light to enter the building.

My next blog post will show you more photos of this massive restoration project, including shots of some the beautiful outdoor spaces. In the meantime, visit the Castle and Key website for more about this exciting endeavor and for information about taking the tour yourself.  I highly recommend it!

The Brown Hotel

The Brown Hotel
Louisville, Jefferson County

Lobby

Lobby Ceiling

Piano in the lobby and bar area

Second Floor Seating Area

Old Telephone Booth

Guest Room

Rooftop Patio

Historic Downtown La Grange, Part 2

La Grange Depot

Once the old McDowell Drug Store, this building has been divided into three separate spaces.  Housed here are
the local art gallery, a yarn store, and a tattoo parlor.

My grandfather, Frank L. Lee, worked in McDowell Drug Store when he was a teenager.  In fact, that's him with Mr.
D. C. McDowell and another clerk in the painting on the sidewalk in front of the old drug store.  Mr. McDowell was a
wonderful mentor and teacher to my grandfather who, along with his two younger brothers, became a pharmacist
and drug store owner himself.