Castle & Key Experimental Series: Harvest Gin finished in Armagnac Casks

Long before gin was known as a clear spirit, it traveled in wood. Barrels were used again and again for storing and shipping, and Old Tom gin was often poured straight from the cask, sometimes beneath the sign of a black tomcat. Along the way, it took on color and character from the oak. It was finished gin, well before anyone gave it a name.

Our first experimental gin is a nod to that tradition. For the final Homeplace release of 2026, we rested our Harvest Gin for thirty months in Armagnac casks, pairing its botanical profile with a barrel chosen to highlight some flavors and gently shift others. The result is a golden gin with added sweetness, brighter fruit, and a rounder palate.

How to Enjoy

Sip it neat to appreciate the cask, or stir it into a Martinez, the 1880s classic that predates the martini: 2 oz gin, 1 oz sweet vermouth, a barspoon of maraschino liqueur, and 2 dashes of orange bitters, finished with a lemon twist.

This is a spirit worth sitting with, and for now, it's only available at Castle & Key. Releases October 10th. Available exclusively in the Boiler Room and at Castle & Key 502.