Category: Bourbon Whiskey

Hannah’s Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Bourbon Review

Original review written November 28, 2022

GENERAL DESCIPTION:

First dive into BRT-02, and I can’t say that this impressed me as much as it’s older sister, BRT-01. Nevertheless, no regrets buying – just as I am with any Wood Finishing Series Maker’s. 83/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Loretto, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Wheat=16%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Finishing Staves: 10 virgin toasted oak staves added to the barrel which is then given an extra eight weeks of maturation.
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– ABV: 54.7% (109.4 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho 2022

“2022 marks the fourth year Maker’s has produced the Wood Finishing Series. Each year has had a unique taste vision. This year the two releases focus on barrel rotation (cycling rackhouse location). The goal is to distinguish and enjoy the unique flavors found on the top floors while comparing them to barrels stored lower in the warehouse.

Since 1953, Maker’s consistent flavors have been credited to the hand-Barrel RoTation process. Top barrels in the rickhouse are brought to the bottom, and each level is then raised to ensure equal exposure to varying temperatures over time. The designation “BRT” for this year’s releases comes from this practice.

BRT-02 comes from the cooler bottom ricks. French oak staves help the liquid to reach and impart dark depth.” – Maker’s Mark

Visit makersmark.com for more information.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with sister, Elora, and father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out Elora’s and Brian’s reviews as well!

SETTING:

This bourbon has sweet and it has a healthy dose of bitter as well, coming through pastries and dark bakes. I imagine having this pour in a bakeshop, perched right next to the window shielding rows of warm pies. Everything is inviting, and you know each bite would be rich. Maker’s BRT-02 would settle between each crack of pastry and in the syrupy filling between solid pieces of pecan or fruit.

Photo by Kelcie Herald on Unsplash

NOSE:

Salted caramel syrup, maple candies, and toffee greet the nose first, biting down on their sweetness. It’s not a burnt sugar, but it’s as though I can already feel the granules of sugar on my tongue. The cloud of confectionary does break a bit as I swirl the glass around and disturb that caramel turtle shell. Underneath are not-quite-ripe granny smith apples, offering a hint of tartness that frankly does not balance out the sweet too much. Deep inhales coax out a scorched earth quality – the smoke is just as buried in the ground as it is in the bourbon. Dark fruits and white pepper but a subtle, but necessary role in this nose, rounding out the complexity. As a fruit lover, it, and the intriguing peppery bite have my salivary glands most excited.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Buttery. It feels thick on the palate and certainly heavy, but I don’t know if I could commit to it going anywhere or sinking deeper.
– Balance: Heavy on the burnt sweets – I do wish I had a bit of fruit to balance it out, but that’s my fruit-lover self, talking loudly, I suspect.
– Visual: Flame in color, this leaves tiny drops with many, many, many long legs behind – all thin.

– Taste: I can hold this in my mouth without feeling prompted at all to aggravate it. Once I do though, the maple and caramel from the nose, along with a dark – almost bitter – dark brown sugar dominate. There’s also pastry, like a caramelized pie crust that had the filling bleed into it. I’m not the biggest fan of pecan pie, but the rich, sweetness with the dark, flavorful chewiness… that’s this bourbon. (The pie may even be a little overbaked, I must add.)

Beyond this and the traditional warmth, I can’t say that this offers the greatest amount of complexity. It IS rich and it IS buttery, but I’d love for the spice to be more aggressive, or a burst of fruit juice to zing at the back of my palate. Nevertheless, this is a quite enjoyable pour – facilitates an easy flow of conversation without being oppressive on the moment. A Kentucky chew bites at the tongue more harshly than I anticipated, and I don’t think it contributes very positively to the flavor. Instead, it brings out a bitterness that sits at the start of the throat, and I feel inclined to take another sip to chase it away. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it worked either.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: I can’t feel a sharp result of finish on this bourbon, but the warmth as a whole is definitely present. And it does linger for some time, which is always a good bonus.
– Between Sips: Nothing but bourbon warmth lingers between sips. A faint hint of pecan can be found wisping in and out, but it is so faint, it’s barely noticeable.

– No More: I don’t know if I can say that the flavor develops, but the warmth does deepen, which I greatly appreciate. The conversation flows even more now, and I find myself sinking into the happy warmth a solid bourbon can provide.

The empty glass is dark oak with a hint of spice. I wish the spice had been present in the rest of the glass, but the richness here certainly matches the pour.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$60 is the going price for many bourbons these days – even entry level bourbons. But buying a special finish Maker’s is always worth the price – it’s just one of those bottles I’ll grab to try for the sake of trying. There are few bad, special-finish Maker’s, and this one is certainly not among them, even with some of its pitfalls. It’s a warm, solid pour, and I’m happy to have it. I’ll lament it when it’s gone… but I don’t know if I’ll buy again. It’s worth this initial bottle in gold, but a 2nd bottle… I’m not so sure.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-02 BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 83/100

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