All reviews are evaluated within the context of their specific spirit classification as specified above. The 46 variation of Maker’s Mark is a departure from that mold in an unfortunate way, in that it’s much closer to a traditional bourbon bottle. By more boldly leading with descriptions of ‘French oaked,’ Bourbon drinkers new and old can understand what flavor profiles they can expect to find behind the label. Instead of the paper label, Maker’s Mark 46 is a clear bottle with the color of the Maker’s Mark label used as the color of the font. Introduced in 2010, Maker’s Mark 46 was the first new variant produced by the distillery since it opened.

According to Maker’s Mark, Maker’s 46 bourbon is the first new expression to the range since the 50s. 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. Maker’s Mark is written below the wax seal in medium font and even smaller in italics beneath it “Stave Profile No. The heat of the summers causes the whiskey to expand and permeate the wood, adding the brown color we all recognize in bourbon, and the caramelized and vanilla flavors as well.

With the new Maker’s Mark 46 bottle design being reined in and now sharing the same design as standard Maker’s, the bourbon stands out just a little bit less on the shelf from a purely aesthetic standpoint. The normal Maker’s Mark bottle is mostly wrapped in paper, but in this case the deep amber color of the liquid inside is on full display. Once they do, the barrels are moved to a cooler area of the warehouse, which slows the aging process. I don’t particularly get the apple flavor from the nose, but there is some fruitiness in there that’s making things interesting.

There’s a pop of spice present but overall the wheat in the mashbill helps keep it at bay and provides for an even-keeled expression. While one is classic, tried, and true, the other is a more recent concoction and therefore open to more scruples than the original Maker’s Mark.According to Maker’s, “the new design puts the uniqueness of the liquid on full display, differentiating itself in the proprietary French oaked process that gives Maker’s Mark 46 its characteristic layers of faceted flavor. Originally released in 2010, Maker's Mark 46 starts off as standard Maker’s Mark, which is a wheated bourbon made in batches of less than 1,000 gallons. Excerpt: I find none of the gritty, aluminum, aspartame notes from the standard 46 release, and this is a winner. The company is the third largest manufacturer of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois (with the holding company located in Osaka, Japan).

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. These special barrels get a chunk of charred French oak added and set to continue the aging process.In the end, I wouldn’t say either of these falls short of expectations, and I can’t say enough how much I like both of them. Gone is the unique bottle design that stood tall, instead now sharing the same bottle that the standard Maker’s Mark uses. There’s also a significant bit of burn from the alcohol in here that slightly detracts from the enjoyment, but in general it’s pretty good. While the Maker’s Mark is more golden or straw-colored amber, the Maker’s Mark 46 is a darker hue, closer to dark amber, or even a light brown.