The Maker’s Mark distillery was founded by Bill Samuels Sr. and his wife Margie Samuels in 1953 in Loretto, KY after the purchase of Burks distillery. Marker’s Mark is owned by beverage company Beam Suntory.
Bottles of Marker’s Mark have the following characteristics on the label, a star for Star Hill Farm (the Bardstown farm where the family resided), the letter “S” for Samuels, and the Roman numeral IV symbolizes Bill’s status as a fourth-generation distiller. Finally, a red wax topper that differentiates the bourbon from all other brands.
The distillery has two whiskey experiences. The Markers Mark Tour, here you will be able to taste the core range of products, and the Golden Ticket Ambassador Tour, where you can have your name on a barrel of Marker’s Mark. Ambassadors receive a golden ticket for a special tour and pick a few personalized bottles from a batch after the bourbon fully matures. This review is for the Maker’s Mark Tour.
All bourbons made at Maker’s Mark have a mash bill of 70% corn/16% soft red winter wheat/14% malted barley.
Why use winter wheat? This grain provides a soft creamy texture to balance the sharp sweetness of the corn. As founder Bill Samuels stated, “Give me a bourbon that won’t blow my ears off”.
Maker’s Mark tasting flight consisted of five Bourbons:
#1: Makers Mark Original. This bourbon is bottled at 90% proof. Barrels are charred for 40 seconds (char level 3) and, just like any other Bourbon, must be aged in new American oak. This one felt young and light with vanilla notes.
#2: Makers Mark 101. Just like its name indicates, this bourbon is bottled at 101% proof. Same flavor profile as bourbon #1, but bottled at a higher alcohol strength.
#3: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. This bourbon is bottled at barrel 114% proof. The term “cask strength” means that the bourbon is coming straight from the barrel/cask with very little or no water added before bottling, giving you a clear view of the distillery flavor profile. Flavors of vanilla, caramel, and oak are bold in this expression with a long finish.
#4: Maker’s Mark 46. The first bourbon in the wood-finishing series. It starts like Maker’s Mark original (matured in new American charred oak) and then matured for nine more weeks with ten seared French oak staves added to the barrel and stored in the limestone cellar (this is just another fancy name for warehouse). The flavor profile is consistent with all flavors I previously mentioned, but now I taste a bit of fruit and some bitterness, probably due to the tannins coming from the French oak finish. (See picture of the staves inside the barrel on Instagram).
When bourbon is matured in a second barrel that is NOT new charred American oak, it is technically considered a Whiskey Specialty, not bourbon. Another example is Angel’s Envy bourbon, which made its name with barrel finishes in Port and Rum.
#5: Private Selection. This bourbon was bottled at approximately 110% proof at cask-strength and finished for nine additional weeks in barrels specially fitted with ten wood-finishing staves in the warehouse. The Private Selection bourbon is different from Maker’s Mark 46 due to the barrel customization.
There are five different stave types offered for maturation purposes: Virgin American Oak, French Cuvée, Roasted French Mediant (named after a traditional French confection featuring chocolate, dried fruit, and nuts) Toasted French Spice, and Roasted French Mocha. This expression is typically not sold to the open public but geared toward bars, restaurants, and Marker’s Mark Ambassadors.
My favorite bourbon from this flight was Bourbon #3 due to the bold flavors of vanilla, caramel, and oak. This one should make a great Old Fashioned.
What are the best-valued points of Maker’s Mark distillery?
- Picturesque grounds honoring the history and tradition of the distillery is a major plus for this experience. Black buildings with red shutters remind you of the brand and family lineage. A place to bring your significant other, regardless of taste for bourbon.
- A very informative tour guide. She articulated very well the details behind the brand, family history, and distillery flavor profile.
On the other hand, some bourbons felt too mellow for my taste. The tasting part of the tour felt a little rushed. I would have liked to spend more time discovering the nuances of the bourbon.
When booking a distillery experience, think about what you would like to accomplish. Do you want to get the full tour with just enough time to taste the whiskey? Or do you want to focus on the flavors and book a guided tasting instead?
Score: 3/5 ⭐
You can see more pics of this tour if you follow us on our Facebook and Instagram official accounts. Reed more distillery reviews on the Bourbon Trail, like the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown.
