This is the epitome of what most people think of when they think of what a bourbon tastes like, which makes sense because bourbon is a trendsetter and has been since its creation. When we think of bourbon, we think of this nose, this taste on the palate, and this finish. Do other profiles exist? It is bottled when the tasters agree that it is ready, roughly around 6 yo. The Maker’s Mark bourbon mash bill does not include rye. Instead of rye, Maker’s Mark uses red winter wheat (16%), along with corn (70%) and malted barley (14%). Maker’s Mark Distillery has unveiled its new Maker’s Mark 46 bottle and design, created to highlight the brand’s values and better tell the story of its liquid. Rich and sweet with heaps of plump maraschino cherries, oak, vanilla and caramel. There are hints of honey and buttery cinnamon toast.

And of course, the bottle is sealed with that iconic red wax as well, the company does that with all their bottles, no matter the series. Maker’s Mark is written below the wax seal in medium font and even smaller in italics beneath it “Stave Profile No. 46” of course with the number ’46’ large and front and center of the bottle. Beneath the 46, in smaller font, are the specs of the whiskey. Small Batch Bourbon is a high-rye content bourbon that is priced similarly to the Maker’s Mark 46 and is oh so delicious! It’s going to give you those great oaky notes that the Maker’s Mark 46 also has. For over a half a century, Maker’s Mark did one thing and, darn it, they did it well. Then they introduced their 46 expression. Since the success of that line, they have continued to add other products added to their repertoire, but are any as good as the original?Cherries, brandied fruit, toasted wood and vanilla spice. Adding a few drops of water brings out more spice and woody notes.

His wife, Marjorie “Margie” Samuels, gave the whisky its name. She designed the now-classic label and came up with the red wax-dipping top that provides the bottle with its distinctive look. 1968 saw the first bottle of Maker’s Mark. Maker’s Mark is going to be creamy, smooth, and soft with hints of vanilla, oak, tobacco, and caramel. Long peppery finish. Oh this is lovely. The heavy toasting of the French oak really helps overcome any risk of cloying sweetness. Thea Engst brings a unique viewpoint to Whiskey Watch. With her eleven years in the hospitality industry, she learned a lot and is passing that information on in a helpful and easy-to-understand way. She is the author of two books. Her newest book is called Nectar of the Gods and her first book Drink Like a Bartender was rated as one of the Best Booze Books of 2017 by Forbes Magazine.

That distillery, once Burks Distillery and now Maker’s Mark, has been producing whiskey since 1889. Excerpt: All that said, the flavors are nice but don’t have the same depth and richness as the nose – a bit of a letdown.

The Roman numeral for four symbolizes Bill Samuels’ being the fourth-generation distiller of his family. (Fun fact: Bill Junior discovered at some point that his father was not the fourth-generation distiller he believed he was. On the nose, I get a lot of salty caramel notes. I’m also getting the smells of oak from the charred, virgin American barrels that this bourbon is aged in for at least three years. Excerpt: What this release is - a high proof wheated bourbon that will please Maker’s fans, but will be hard-pressed to leave a lasting impression.

On the nose, this bourbon is what I call in my notes a “butter bomb”. The nose is creamy, but it’s followed by wood and hints of cigar tobacco. Elijah Craig Small Batch is nice and oaky and definitely much less expensive than the Lost Prophet! This wood-forward bottle will ring you in at just about thirty dollars. I recommend the Maker’s Mark for a classic Old Fashioned but the Maker’s Mark 46 also makes a great Old Fashioned. The distillery and its associated brand were sold in 1981 to Hiram Walker & Sons, starting a long line of acquisitions which eventually ended in their current position with Beam Suntory in 2011. The company is the third largest manufacturer of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois (with the holding company located in Osaka, Japan). Product