By Janet Patton, Lexington Herald Leader

Kentucky’s Castle & Key Distillery is releasing a new whiskey that focuses on righting the past by funding the future.

In partnership with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild, the Versailles distillery is releasing The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey, Chapter 1, with future versions to come. The guild is officially releasing the whiskey on Nov. 13 in Lexington.

The whiskey has a mash bill of 73 percent white corn, 10 percent rye and 17 percent malted barley. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of toffee, baked apricot, and honey roasted peanuts with a palate of dark honey, peanuts, pie crust, dark chocolate pie, with notes of black pepper and toasted tobacco.

The 106.6 proof whiskey is priced at $149.99 and there are only 425 bottles.

But the best thing about this release might not be what is inside the bottle but what it will do for future distillers: 100 percent of this new whiskey sales will support The Castle & Key Scholarship Fund, a scholarship created to promote diversity and inclusion in the distilling industry, according to a news release.

Castle & Key Distillery in Versailles is releasing a special whiskey, The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey, Chapter 1, in conjunction with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild to raise money for a scholarship for African American students interested in careers in distilling.

Castle & Key Distillery in Versailles is releasing a special whiskey, The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey, Chapter 1, in conjunction with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild to raise money for a scholarship for African American students interested in careers in distilling. Provided

“As distillers and admirers of American whiskey, it is our responsibility to share the history of how the spirit came to be,” says Will Arvin, co-founder of Castle & Key. “We are honored to have partnered with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild to amplify these untold stories and to launch this important scholarship fund. Our hope is to amplify the diverse history of our industry and to support a more equitable future for prospective distillers.”

The whiskey will be available to buy for pre-purchase in advance to guests at the Untold Story Special Release Brunch held by the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild at Base249 in Lexington on Nov. 13 from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets are available online at kentuckyblackbourbonguild.com for $85 per person and include a tasting of The Untold Story Whiskey, a signature cocktail, brunch from Black Soil Kentucky, a silent auction, and live band entertainment.

Castle & Key will release annual “chapters” of The Untold Story, with each focusing another aspect of how African Americans have contributed to the spirits industry.

“This special release rightfully connects African American contributions to that very Americanism going back to the dates of slavery,” says Mike Adams, vice president of the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild, in the news release. “Make no mistake about it, this project boldly confesses a truth that most have been reluctant to merely utter aloud. Our organization is proud to work with such a courageous, forward-thinking, and fair organization as Castle & Key.”

The Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild was founded by Robert Beatty in Lexington to focus on minority consumers and the influence of African-Americans on the distilling industry.

The Castle & Key Scholarship Fund was established at the Blue Grass Community Foundation to support scholarships for students of color interesting in working in the distilling field in Kentucky. The $5,000 scholarship is renewable for one additional year of study. The scholarship opens for submission in January 2022 and closes in March.

“With this program we hope to inspire a new generation of distillers and to challenge the conventions of the past,” says Jonathan Newton, director of sales. “We hope to incorporate more of this historical narrative into the experience at Castle & Key, and we hope that this initiative inspires more of this important work throughout the industry.”