Luca Mariano Distillery files for bankruptcy
Kentucky-based whiskey maker Luca Mariano Distillery has followed its parent company in filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In July, LMD Holdings – the parent firm of Luca Mariano Distillery – filed for bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The distillery, located in Danville, Kentucky, has now filed for the same action in Michigan, where its parent firm is based.
According to the filing on 12 November, the company owes money to more than 50 creditors. These include farm suppliers, equipment companies, utilities, and state tax agencies.
It has estimated liabilities of between US$10 million and US$50m, with assets between US$1m and US$10m.
Among the creditors listed is Keystone Industrial, which has filed a US$1.28m lien in Boyle County for construction work.
Francesco S Viola II, who is listed as the 100% equity owner, signed the bankruptcy filing. Viola envisioned creating a ‘Napa Valley of Bourbon’ in central Kentucky and named the newly opened distillery after his son.
The distillery held an opening ceremony in June for its ‘farm-to-bottle’ site, which features the ‘oldest’ stone house in Kentucky.
According to a press release in June, the site features an 18-inch column still with the capacity to produce up to 18,000 barrels annually.
The distillery’s range includes small batch and single barrel Bourbons and rye whiskeys.
The filing of Chapter 11 enables the distillery to continue to operate while reorganising its debts under court protection. While the distillery states it is open to the public, no tours can currently be booked for December.
The Spirits Business has contacted Luca Mariano Distillery for comment.
In October, Staggemeyer Stave voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following action taken by its creditors.
The global whisky industry is facing challenges of oversupply in the face of lower consumer demand, alongside increased costs and tariffs.
In the October 2025 issue of The Spirits Business, we recently spoke to industry experts to assess the situation in the US.
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