The Bourbon Review: Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

Part of the Beam Suntory portfolio since 2005, Maker’s Mark was founded by Bill and Margie Samuels in 1953 in Loretto, Kentucky with the first bottles released to market in 1958.

Bill was an engineer by trade and became the Maker’s Mark mash bill engineer in chief. He had a novel way of experimenting with the different mash bills – He would bake a loaf of bread with each recipe in order to taste the individual mash bills.

Bill’s wife Margie was equally as creative. Margie designed the shape of the bottle, the look of the label, came up with the name and also the iconic red wax dip. In recognition of these achievements she was inducted to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2014.

Their son Bill Samuel’s Jr is credited of making the brand internationally famous and also for pioneering wood stave finishing with releases like the Maker’s 46

Fun fact: spelt whisky and not whiskey

Maker’s Mark (90 proof/45% abv) $22   (aged roughly 6-7 yrs)

Mash Bill: 70% corn – 16% red winter wheat – 14% malted barley

Nose: Quite a light and sweet nose. Golden syrup, vanilla beans, corn, sarsaparilla and marshmallow. A herbal note helps cut through the sweetness also helped by sawn oak.

Palate: The palate is a little more intense than the nose would suggest. We get the caramel, vanilla and corn bread. Sawn oak, cinnamon bark and little a bit of astringency. Chilli flakes too. Towards the end is a little bit of acetone.

Finish: Short with caramel, vanilla and drying oak tannins.

Score: 5 out of 10

Overall: A great nose that the palate struggle to keep up too but still a great sipper and a worthy introduction into wheated whisky. For the price it’s a versatile bourbon to have on your shelf. Good as a sipper, over ice or as a cocktail base.

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