Country – Region: USA – Kentucky
Distillery: Wilderness Trail
Bottler: Luca Mariano
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Age: NAS
Cask: American White Oak
ABV: 51.5%
Proof: 103
Price: $66

Nose: Vanilla, nutmeg, eggnog, shaved oak, a touch of smoke

Palate: Creamy with pears, stone fruits, mesquite smoke, oak tannins, shaved oak, honey 

Finish: Finish long with beechwood, peppers, cinnamon

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

How Does It Taste?

Luca Mariano Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at 103 proof and there is no age statement but I believe it to be at least 4 years old.

Compared to the Luca Mariano Old Americana Small Batch Bourbon, this is way more open and fragrant. The nose is full of eggnog flavors like vanilla, nutmeg, shaved oak, orange, and a touch of smoke. The palate is extremely sweet with pears, stone fruits, mesquite smoke, oak tannins, shaved oak and honey. The finish has intense notes of beechwood wth peppers and cinnamon.

Verdict

This is not my type of bourbon! But it is somebody else's for sure. Spirit character doesn't lack anything but it is overly sweet with beechwood, bubblegum and shaved oak. Aside from the imbalance there, the proof doesn't hit that much and it offers an easily drinking experience. On another thought, this can be a great base for my eggnog this year!