Info Shots
- Price: ~$72.00 (2021)
- Spirit: Whiskey
- Proof: 110.6 (55.3% alcohol)
- Noses (smell):
- Palate (taste): (1st sip) Smoky, Oaky, overwhelms a hint of vanilla on the mid flavor, (2nd sip) Honey and vanilla are present. Finish Smooth
- Age Statement: Standard Maker Mark Age
Distiller information
Background
For this whiskey, some context is needed in-case you don’t understand the purpose of the numbers for the stave profile.
| Stave Type | Description | Tasting Notes | This Bottle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baked American Pure | Baked American Pure is American oak that’s slowly toasted. BP, or Baked American Pure, is made from American oak and is the first stave sampled in the program. | Brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and spice. | 1 |
| Seared French Cuvee | Next in order is Cu, also known as Seared French Cuvée. Cu is made from French oak that’s ridge-cut and seared with infrared heat. | imparts toasty notes of oak and caramel | 2 |
| Makers Mark 46 | The Maker’s Mark 46 stave is the one that started this whole experiment. It’s made from seared French oak. A barrel fitted with 10 of these staves would give you a cask-strength version of Maker’s Mark 46. | Delivers dried fruit, vanilla and spice. | 1 |
| Roasted French Mendiant | Roasted French Mendiant is French oak cooked on low in a convection oven. | Pleasant traces of milk chocolate, nuts, and dried dark fruit | 3 |
| Toasted French Spice | Toasted French Spice is a French oak stave, toasted at first high heat then at low temperatures in a convection oven. | flavor profile of smoke, coumarin and spice. | 3 |
Maker’s Mark® Private Selection is a first-of-its-kind barrel program. It allows our retail or restaurant partners to purchase a barrel and explore their own taste visions of Maker’s Mark® – much in the way our past-and-present Maker’s® distillers defined theirs. Find your favorite by trying unique expressions of Maker’s Mark® Private Selection at your favorite establishments.
Onto the Review
Temperature
| Warm | Cold |
|---|---|
| Yes | Yes, much more intense flavors. |
We noticed that using Ice to chill the drink increased the flavor and intensity on this one. So much beyond our first impressions. This combination of flavors opened my eyes to what Maker’s Mark is capable of producing with their various stave flavors. When compared to other stave profiles, this one is much more intense with flavors of smoke and oak. This flavor profile reminds me of an Islay scotch in some cases that some people will either love or hate depending on who you are.
After the initial smoke and oak flavors subside, the hints of vanilla and honey appear to usher in the next layer of this whiskey. While not as intense or long noted, the notes are present to be made out.
Conclusion
If you haven’t had a chance to have a private select Maker’s mark, I highly recommend trying one or even buying one if you can. Best recommendation is if your on the fence about purchasing one, try seeing if a local bar may have one on hand to let you try.
