Botanicals & Cocoa: Exploring Castle & Key Roots of Ruin Gin w/ Bissinger’s Gin & Tonic Truffle Bar!

Behind the Pour

Castle and Key Distillery was built on ruins — literally. The facility was originally constructed by the founder of E.H. Taylor, one of the most important names in bourbon history, and it fell into decades of disrepair before being painstakingly restored. Crystal and Roger have been looking forward to visiting in person, and this bottle is a warmup. The Roots of Ruin Gin comes in a decanter-quality bottle, vapor distilled from a rye-forward mash bill with eight botanicals, 106 proof, for $29. The bottle alone costs what the whole thing sells for.

What You'll Discover

• Eight distinct botanicals: juniper, chamomile, ginger, rosemary, licorice root, lemon verbena, coriander, and angelica root. Each one is chosen with care — the result is a gin that goes well beyond the standard juniper-coriander baseline.
• The whiskey mash bill as gin base: Castle and Key uses the same grain recipe for their Roots of Ruin Gin as for their rye whiskey — 17% yellow corn, 63% rye, and 20% malted barley. The rye-forward base gives the gin a natural spice backbone before the botanicals are added.
• Vapor distillation: Rather than steeping botanicals directly in the spirit, vapor distillation passes alcohol vapor through or over the botanicals — extracting delicate aromatics without the heavier, sometimes bitter extraction that comes from direct steeping. It is a more nuanced technique.
• $29 for 106 proof in a decanter: Roger notes the bottle looks like a keepable vessel — one you'd want on the shelf after the gin is gone. The brass cap and castle logo are genuine metal.
• DSP Kentucky 18: The distillery's designation is DSP KY 18. The E.H. Taylor origin means this facility has a claim to some of the oldest bourbon-making heritage in Kentucky, and the restoration brought a landmark back to production.

A Moment of Pourspective

Ruins are not endings — they are the most honest records of what was there before. A distillery that restores from ruin instead of building new carries history in its walls. Taste the gin and you are tasting the building's second act.

Explore the Conversation

The Castle and Key episode opens with the reveal of the bottle, which prompts immediate discussion about craftsmanship. Roger notes that it looks like art — the kind of bottle you keep. Crystal identifies the brass cap and points out that what looks like plastic is in fact fully metal. At $29, this is one of those rare moments where packaging quality, production quality, and price point all over-deliver simultaneously. The vapor distillation method is explained mid-episode with characteristic TLC clarity: alcohol boils at a lower temperature than water, which allows it to be vaporized and passed through the botanicals without boiling the botanicals themselves. The resulting distillate is a lighter, more precise aromatic extraction. Crystal notes she was interrupted while explaining it, which becomes part of the episode's banter. The juniper and citrus character comes through on the nose immediately. The 106 proof brings the botanicals forward without overwhelming them — Crystal and Roger note that a high-proof gin can surprise you with how well it carries the flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Castle and Key's connection to E.H. Taylor? E.H. Taylor Jr. is one of the most significant figures in bourbon history — he established standards that became the basis of the Bottled-in-Bond Act. Castle and Key's distillery was built by the man who would go on to found the E.H. Taylor brand, before the property fell into disrepair and was later restored.
• What is vapor distillation in gin-making? Instead of macerating botanicals directly in the spirit, vapor distillation uses the alcohol vapor from the still to pick up botanical aromas and flavors as it passes through a basket. It extracts delicate, fresh notes without the heavier bitter extraction of direct steeping.
• Is this a good gin for gin skeptics? The botanical mix is more complex than juniper-forward London Dry styles. The chamomile and ginger notes add warmth; the lemon verbena and rosemary bring brightness. At 106 proof it has presence but not aggression.
• Where can I find it? Castle and Key distributes in Kentucky and is expanding nationally. Their website and specialty spirits retailers are the best places to find Roots of Ruin.

Episode at a Glance

• Spirit reviewed: Castle and Key Roots of Ruin Gin
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Category: Gin & Vodka
• Details: 106 proof, 8 botanicals, vapor distilled, rye whiskey mash bill, $29, DSP KY 18