Country – Region: USA – Kentucky
Distillery: Wilderness Trail
Bottler: Luca Mariano
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Age: NAS
Cask: American White Oak
ABV: 53.5%
Proof: 107
Price: $75

Nose: Cardamom, lemon, smoked oak, beechwood, construction area, damp sand

Palate: Bitter, vanilla, apple pie, peppers, sweet pears, honeydew, beechwood

Finish: Long with melon, banana. peppers, smoked oak

Luca Mariano Distillery is an Italian story rooting in Kentucky, trying to bring Italian inspired bourbon and rye from the family recipes of Francesco S. Viola. Currently, the distillery is being built and LMD partnered up with Wilderness Trail Distillery to create their whiskies. I have received 5 of their expressions and will be reviewing them one by one.

• Luca Mariano Old Americana Rye Whiskey
• Luca Mariano Single Barrel Rye Whiskey
• Luca Mariano Old Americana Small Batch Bourbon
• Luca Mariano Single Barrel Bourbon

How Does It Taste?

Luca Mariano Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a single barrel bourbon bottled at 107 proof. LMD describes the recipe as  'Smoked Malted Barley'.

This is way different than Luca Mariano Old Americana Small Batch Bourbon or Luca Mariano Single Barrel Bourbon. The nose has cardamom, lemon, smoked oak, toasted bread, beechwood, cement and damp sand nose which were interesting.

The palate starts bitter and has vanilla, apple pie, peppers, sweet pears, honeydew and beechwood. A huge amount of beechwood. The finish is very long with melon, bananas, peppers and smoked oak.

Verdict

From what I can observe, Luca Mariano whiskies tend to be really sweet. Luca Mariano Signature Bourbon is also no different with a twist. Aside from all the sweetness, it also has a big smoky profile that some people are a fan of.

If you like some smoke and beechwood and if you have a sweet tooth, this is your bourbon!