Vanilla | Oak | Caramel | Honeycomb | Burnt pie crust | Faint floral bouquet | Light overall

Sweet vanilla | Rye spice | Spiced apple | Spiced caramel cream | Burnt toffee | Dash of milk chocolate | Slightly thin mouthfeel

Baking spices | Rye spice | Pepper corn mix | Faint dried spiced apple | Oak | Gentle lingering spice

The K.Luke brand was created by the husband-and-wife team of  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. Blended Straight Bourbon Batch 5 is a 1,665 bottle release that combines eight barrels of 7-9 year old bourbons from Kentucky and Indiana.

The sip starts with a light straightforward aroma that contains mostly classic scents, with the exception of burnt pie crust and a faint floral bouquet that adds a slight intrigue. The midpoint brings about slightly more character, as a mixture of spicy and sweet notes intertwine with one another. Ending on how the bourbon began, a more classic mixture of flavor notes brings the bourbon to a crisp close before a gentle lingering spice takes over.

K.Luke Blended Straight Bourbon Batch 5 is a mostly straightforward affair. Its flavors are up front and vary in intensity as they’re delivered throughout the sip. Considering the proof, I would have liked to see more depth of the flavors, especially since the company’s Small Batch Barrel Strength offerings usually excel in this area. Thankfully, the company has priced this accordingly, as $50 seems reasonable for the more even-keeled drinking experience that Batch 5 offers.