K. Luke Bourbon Batch 15 & The Return of 100 Proof

We’re back with the first two releases from K. Luke in 2026, including the return of their 100 proof bourbon for the first time in over two years. More than ever, these two batches really showcase Jonathan Maisano’s blending style and the current age ranges within each release. The balance of fruit, vibrancy, and richness is evident in both Batch 15 Barrel Strength and Batch 5 Small Batch 100 Proof.
 
Batch 5 Small Batch is an 8-barrel blend crafted from hand-selected barrels sourced from distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana. Built on straight bourbon whiskeys aged at least seven years and complemented by older barrels that add depth and layered character, it is bottled non-chill filtered at 100 proof to deliver elegant yet rich complexity. This may quickly become one of my most reached-for bottles right now given its flavor and price, but we only have a handful of cases available, so don’t hesitate.
 
The nose is richly fruity, with sweet cherry, raspberry, baked apple, and wildflower honey. It continues to layer into notes of milk chocolate, salted toffee, and warming sweet oak.
 
The palate is nicely balanced and well-textured, opening with loads of cherry limeade and strawberries and cream before moving into a lightly spiced, slightly chocolate-driven sweet oak.
 
Voluptuous Luxardo cherry syrup carries long into the finish, joined by a soft pop of mint and nicely charred sweet oak, with lingering notes of orange simple syrup and cream.
 
Hot off the heels of placing #14 in Fred Minnick’s American Whiskey of 2025 and #54 on UPROXX’s Bourbon of 2025, we’re back with an impressive new barrel strength release.
 
Batch 15 Bourbon is a 10-barrel blend sourced from several distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana, featuring mash bills with up to 36% rye. Similar to Batch 14, the bourbons in this blend are aged 8 to 12 years, allowing the focus to remain on building multi-layered, exciting blends rather than highlighting the individual components. While I generally make Four Roses inspired references to the blends, this one to me leans a bit like a fruity Heaven Hill profile that I am absolutely loving. If you are a K. Luke fan, this batch is not to miss. 
 
The nose begins dense, buttery, and sweet. Elegantly creamy, with initial notes of crème brûlée that give way to raspberry, black cherry, and apricot in a honeyed, softly fragrant package, with just a touch of nougat or French silk pie.
 
The palate is softly syrupy and feels perfectly balanced. It begins with a candied sweet oak note with a touch of leather, quickly moving into brown sugar simple syrup, alongside a honeyed, almost nectary peach and gummy lime fruitiness. Spice is not the focus here, instead leaning into a refreshing expression of citrus peel that adds a welcome, balancing bitterness.
 
The finish may be my favorite part, a perfect crescendo of everything that came before: fruit, citrus, and sweetness. A touch of nutty oak carries through a beautifully long, layered finish.