Proof: 120.2 proof

Bottled 8/15/2024

Mash bill: Corn 69.3% Rye 25.4% Malted Barley 5.3%

Tasting Notes: Soft and sweet is the name of the game here. The nose is has sweet pipe tobacco, buttered toffee, tapioca pudding, graham cracker crust, sweet almond croissant, and whipped cream topped lemon chess pie. Even further are subtle pops of allspice, freshly grated nutmeg, dried raspberry, and a hint of leather.

The palate begins as balanced and nuanced as the nose, but definitely brings in a bit more wood influence. Syrupy caramel first hits the front of the palate before a wave of coffee cake and toasted oak. The spices begin to set in, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper, but still not forgetting these dense sweeter tones.

The finish is soft but persistent - French vanilla with lingering oak char and slightly smoked leather and cherry tobacco.

Total Batch Yield: 1,809 bottles

About K.Luke Whiskey: K.LUKE Whiskey Company owner and blender Jonathan Maisano made his first single barrel trip to Kentucky in the summer of 2014.  Since then, he has tasted over 1,600 barrels and selected more than 400 to be deemed as Maisano Hand Select Single Barrels for retail.  Jonathan is also a first level certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers.  He uses this extensive sensory training when evaluating aroma and flavor profiles in whiskey barrels as there are many similar traits in both wine and whiskey when searching for nuances.  

K.LUKE Whiskey Company small batch blends are created by sourcing from several different distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana with different mash bills up to 36% rye and a variety of ages. This allows the focus to be on building multilayered and exciting blends instead of the individual components used to create each blend. Jonathan creates several blends based off his notes and ratings of their barrel inventory, then all blends are run through several rounds of blind tastings with blends being adjusted one barrel at a time by taste (Jonathan and Jennifer do all the blind tastings) until a favorite is decided for bottling. This is TheSpiritOfBlending.