Set on 113 sprawling acres in Frankfort, Kentucky, the European-inspired castle and peristyle springhouse developed by pioneering distiller Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. in 1887 laid vacant for more than 40 years until Will Arvin and Wes Murray took over, spending nearly four years restoring the 130-year-old distillery into Castle & Key. Working with designer Donna Winfield of Winfield Studio, the founding partners transformed 22 dilapidated buildings into a boiler room, tasting room, retail space, and an aging warehouse with a capacity for 35,000 barrels, among other amenities. “The structures, architectural artifacts, and timeworn finishes of the buildings are so beautiful that it was paramount they take centerstage,” Winfield says. Honest materials, including brick, stone, and concrete, provide an authentic touch, while leather and wood furnishings and Oriental rugs create a cozy environment. Matching the quality of the locally sourced spirits, landscape architect Jon Carloftis’ sunken gardens invite patrons to taste test while taking in the lush grounds.