Hannah’s Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #5 Review
Original review written December 3, 2019
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
A good bourbon, to be sure; however, of the private selects that came to Boise, Idaho (Batches 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7), this one is not my favorite, but my third favorite. Independent of its siblings though, this is an incredibly enjoyable spirit. Read my Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #5 Review here! 89/100
VITALS:
– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Private Select
– Age: 8 yrs. 9 weeks
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=16%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– ABV: 54.35% (108.7 proof) – varies by bottle
– Maker’s Mark Private Select Idaho Division Cut Batch #5 (MMPS ID-CB5) finishing staves:
3 Seared French Cuvée (Cu) to provide toasty oak and caramel
3 Roasted French Mocha (Mo) to provide char, maple and cacao
2 Maker’s Mark 46 (46) to provide dried fruit, vanilla and spice
1 Baked American Pure (P2) to provide brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and spice
1 Toasted French Spice (Sp) to provide smoke, coumarin and spice
– Stave Selectors: The Idaho State Liquor Division and Chris Bailey of “The Whiskey Bar” in Boise, Idaho, USA
– Price: $69.95 USD in Idaho
Visit makersmark.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
I close my eyes and picture sitting in the stark, white field of snow and ice in the Arctic night. Every sound is blissfully muffled by the thick blanket of snow. The skies are perfectly clear with the stars shining brighter than ever, obscured only by the colorful Aurora Borealis as it dances in vibrant green, pink, blue and yellow ribbons, across the an inky sky.
Photo by Scott Rock on Unsplash
NOSE:
The nose is well blended, and it takes some serious nosing to discern any flavors. Aside from a soft alcohol bite, there is plenty of vanilla in the glass, along with caramel. Fruit is subtle but a little apple-y. Otherwise, it’s mostly sugar variants, with maple syrup chiming in as the glass warms. Still, it isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, which is good news for those of us not afflicted with a sweet tooth. Very little, if any, dark fruit present and the blend is too good to do much discerning. Maybe a chocolate covered cherry.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Big and tingly; very nice!
– Balance: I really like this one for its solidity and complexity.
– Visual: Auburn in color accompanying a crown that has fast-dropping, thin legs.
– Taste: Despite not being there on the nose, huckleberries and blueberries come forth, only to be chased by a gang of cherries. The alcohol shows itself a bit more here as well but hovering at around 108 proof (this bottle), it isn’t aggressive. There is a mild undercurrent of oak here too that mixes with a couple of prunes to make everything else pop a bit more.
A Kentucky chew livens up the oak and alcohol, letting some maple in, as well. Very nice!
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. My mouth and throat stay warm to however long I pause between sips. The warmth does not go further, preventing me from giving it an exceptionally long finish.
– Between sips: The oak abandons its prune partner to run away with the apple from the nose, but again, it isn’t intense – more like you are left with the impression of apples.
– No More: The darker fruits disappear the further I get into the glass, and a little bit of carameled apple with the oak still keeping the apply company. It’s a bit fresher, but very enjoyable all the same. There may be a maraschino cherry if I really concentrate.
The empty Glencairn is a warm, oak sawdust. Very rich and keeps my nose glued to the rim. One of my favorite empty glass aromas.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Yes
RATING: 89/100
Click to see Hannah’s rating process
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To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.
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