Apricot | Vanilla frosting | Baking spices | Caramel

Rye spice | Caramel | Aged oak | Dark chocolate | Orange peel | Burnt brown sugar

Baking spices | Aged oak | Fig | Dried apricot

The K.Luke brand was created by husband-wife team Jonathan and Jennifer Maisano and named after their two children, Kaitlyn and Lucas. Jonathan is also a first-level certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Small Batch Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 14 is a 1,593 bottle release that combines bourbons from Kentucky and Indiana and clocks in at just over 117 proof.

Similar to the most recent batch we reviewed, Batch 12, K.Luke’s latest Batch 14 is well rounded with nicely integrated spice and overall balance throughout the sip. Scents of apricot and vanilla frosting along with baking spices and caramel give way to notes of rye spice, caramel, and aged oak. Hints of dark chocolate, orange peel, and burnt brown sugar add depth, before spilling over into the finish which draws out baking spices up front. Aged oak, fig, and dried apricot round out the sip.

Combining Kentucky and Indiana sourced bourbons results in a blend that’s familiar, but not easily identifiable based on the components. K.Luke blends are consistently balanced and even-tempered, even at their higher proof points. The company blends in relatively small batches, composed of about 7-10 barrels worth of whiskey per batch, currently. There is a developing underlying consistency of both flavor profile and quality from batch to batch. Batch 14 maintains K.Luke’s consistent high level of quality and balance.