Newly built Kentucky craft distillery files for bankruptcy protection
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Luca Mariano Distillery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Michigan court.
- The Danville-based distillery reported assets and liabilities up to $10 million.
- June liens claimed over $3.8 million in unpaid debts before Thursday's filing.
A financially troubled new Kentucky distillery has filed for bankruptcy.
Luca Mariano Distillery, just recently built in Danville, filed a petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Michigan for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy.
A lawyer for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The small craft distillery, which held its grand opening in June, said in the filing the company, LMD Holdings LLC, estimates its assets and liabilities are between $1 million and $10 million.
Francesco Viola, the company’s owner, lives in Michigan.
“We filed to maximize the value of the assets for all stakeholders,” Viola said in a statement Friday afternoon. “Luca Mariano Distillery and LMD Holdings have a successful business model, have weathered the prior economic challenges in our industry, and are poised to emerge successfully, ideally with the support of its employees, customers, community and creditors.”
The bankruptcy filing came as a Boyle County judge was expected to rule on a motion to send the distillery into receivership and possibly to a master commissioner for sale. Those moves are apparently on hold for now.
In June, the Herald-Leader reported that the distillery was facing multiple liens over unpaid debts of over $3.8 million.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM.
