Maker's Mark is a world-famous bourbon whisky produced in Loretto, Kentucky. The brand is known for its red wax seal, which is said to be applied by hand to each bottle.
A brilliant whisky (note: Maker's Mark is one of just a few distilleries in the US to spell whisky sans the "e"!) it is made to a mashbill first developed by Bill Samuels Sr, which uses red winter wheat instead of rye. The result, therefore, can be described as a "wheated bourbon", and it's all the more smooth and creamy because of it!
Fruity and rich. There are lovely notes of spiced honey and mixed peels, a little malmsey, hazelnut and a touch of cut fruit with toasty oak providing a backbone.
Rich and full. There are notes of rye and spice, barley malt, a little nut oil with butterscotch and vanilla.
Quite sweet with butterscotch and dry oak spice.
As far as bourbons go this one started the small batch revolution and without it we wouldn't have many of the others (in cluding Woodford Reserve) that being said this distillery does need a few more expressions than this one, (yes I know about 46 and black label but they are far to rare) Not bad for the price but Old Fritz 12 VS is more complex but more dear but worth the difference. Still a good entry level and much smoother than JB White or even Black.
I am not exactly sure how to respond to the "Beam" white comparison to Maker's. It is not even close. Maker's is one of the finest bourbons,if not the best bouron in the USA. Woodford Reserve is good but not better. On this same site under "Insider Knowledge" more miss information can be viewed,WHISKY or WHISKEY? Quote; "Maker's Mark whiskey is named whiskey by virtue of the fact it's from America". If you looked at the label on the Maker's Mark bottle that is featured above this statement,the word at issue is spelled WHISKY. It just goes to show you how wrong a person can be. Someone should be embarrassed. Don Attermeyer attermeyer@bellsouth.net
Not bad as Bourbons go, yet still, I found it quite throaty, even on ice, and in truth not a great deal better than Beam white, or for that matter a Sainsbury's own brand I had once was actually close. If I were you, buy a bottle of Woodford Reserve and pocket the difference
