Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Age: Blend of 11 and 12-year-old bourbon
Proof: 115.7 (57.85%)
Region: Loretto, Kentucky
Maker’s Mark is one of the most recognizable bourbons on the market. But despite its iconic status in the world of whiskey, none of their expressions have ever had an official age statement until now. The new Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged is a blend of 11-year-old and 12-year-old bourbon distilled from the brand’s trademark wheat-forward mash bill. The barrels that went into this bottle spent the first six years aging in a standard rickhouse. After they reached peak maturation, the barrels were transferred to Maker’s Mark’s climate-controlled cellar where the barrels rested for another five to six years when they were pulled. So what does an 11-year-old bottle of Maker’s Mark taste like? Find out below.
Tasting notes
The aroma of the Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged is floral and inviting with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and citrus peel. On the palate, it has a warm and creamy mouthfeel and is far more smooth than its proof suggests. Notes of cherry, baked apple, raisin, and fig mingle with cinnamon and clove. The finish is subtle, but the primary note of vanilla lingers for quite some time.
Final thoughts
The loyal fans of Maker’s Mark who have been patiently waiting for an age statement will not be disappointed with this release. Where many bourbons in this age range run the risk of being too oaky with drying, tannic notes, the cool, dry climate of Maker’s Mark’s cellar slows down the maturation process and allows the whiskey to age gracefully. The resulting bourbon sticks to the classic Maker’s Mark flavor profile, but it’s deeper with a bit more fruit-forward sweetness and fewer aromas and flavors of grain. Overall it’s a very approachable and delicious wheated bourbon.
