Category: Wheated Whiskey

Maker’s Mark 46 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Maker’s Mark 46 Review:

original review was entered 19-December-2017,
then amended 30-August-2019

MAKER’S MARK 46 REVIEW:

This is amped up Maker’s; a little more spice, depth and an enjoyable smoothness. The 9 weeks of extra aging with additional staves in the barrel helps bring out more oak.

Maker's Mark 46 Review
MAKER’S 46 VITAL STATS:

– Region: Loretto, KY, USA
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark
– Age: nas (believed to be 5-7 years)
– Mashbill: 70% corn; 16% soft red winter wheat; 14% malted barley
– Barrel Char: unpublished
– Barrel Proof: 110
(A lower proof than most cask strength whiskies; purposely kept lower to prevent alcohol from overwhelming the taste.)
– ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
– Price $46.95 USD in Idaho

Notes from the Maker’s Mark website:
“The innovative wood-stave-finishing process starts with fully matured Maker’s Mark at cask strength [with] 10 seared virgin French oak staves [inserted] into the barrel and finished for nine [additional] weeks in our limestone cellar. The result is bolder … more complex, [and] without … bitterness.”

Learn more at https://makersmark.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared this spirit neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

No heat on the nose. Detectable wheat, vanilla and brown sugar. There is only a hint of woodiness. As the dram disappears, its oak becomes more prevalent.

PALATE:

Deep spice no doubt a result of the addition of the 10 seared French oak staves and extra aging. There is a little vanilla mixed in with caramel and barrel char and spice.

Balance, Body, Look and Feel:
Makers 46 is a well balanced bourbon but to me feel a little thin in the mouth. In the Glencairn, droplets cling then give way to fast dropping legs . Yes it is a little oily, but its spice overwhelms the palate.

FINISH:

Makers 46 offers a nice fade, but not a particularly long finish.

MY RATING: 88/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.

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1792 Sweet Wheat Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s 1792 Sweet Wheat Review:

originally reviewed 19-December-2017,
amended 09-October-2019*

1792 SWEET WHEAT REVIEW:

Barton’s 1792 Sweet Wheat was one of the first whiskeys of which I purchased two bottles at the same time – after thoroughly enjoying an initial purchase. While not real complex, it has a brown sugar richness and a silky-sweet mouth feel which is so nice. There is a little alcohol on the palate but nothing to cause concern, some nice oak in the background and a finish which is quite short. 1792 Sweet Wheat is a great summer sip.

1792 SWEET WHEAT VITAL STATS:
1792 Sweet Wheat Review

– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Barton 1792 Distillery
– Mash Bill: Unknown (The mash bill for Sweet Wheat is undisclosed. Internet searches indicate wheat instead of rye in Barton’s regular mash bill making this a likely mix of 75% corn, 15% wheat and 10% barley.)
– Cask: New-Charred Oak
– Barrel Char Level: #3.5
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: nas (early releases were 8 years)
– ABV: 45.6% (91.2 Proof)
– Price: $36.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at http://1792bourbon.com

*Note: This is an update of an older entry completed in December 2017. The bottle for the update was obtained in February 2019 as a result of my name being drawn from the State of Idaho Liquor Division “Rare Whiskey Lottery”. Sweet Wheat was first purchased in June and then again July of 2017 for around $37 USD.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I first drank this bourbon neat from an half-pint Mason jar. For the update I again enjoyed the juice neat and this time from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

When first brought to the nose there is a faint trace of acetone, but it is not unpleasant. The sensation dissipates quickly and there is no alcohol burn. Sensations of wheat are well defined as are sweet brown sugar and woody caramel. This is a gentle earthy bourbon which offers only a little light dry oak. 1792 Sweet Wheat is not overly complex and it makes me smile.

PALATE:

1792 Sweet Wheat is warming with little to no bite. The taste buds easily pick up the wheat, and with careful swishing, a hint of maraschino cherries along with a faint essence of cinnamon playing hide-and-seek on the tongue. The heat is much like mild white pepper. Its sweetness comes in as warm buttered soft brown sugar caramel on a fresh cut oak stick. This is an earthy dram.

Balance, Body, Look and Feel:
Well balanced, this bourbon is buttery smooth and mellow with a pleasant mouthfeel. In the glass, it tawny appearance offers up long quick dropping matchstick legs leave an ill-defined reverse crown.

FINISH:

The finish on 1792 Sweet Wheat is short, warm and caramelly sweet and as on the nose and palate quite earthy. As the whiskey was drawn down, I sense sawblade-scorched dry oak planks wafting from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 88/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

To access other whiskeys with this score, click 88/100.
Click 1792 Barton to see other whiskies from this distillery.

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1792 Sweet Wheat Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s 1792 Sweet Wheat Review

Original review written on October 27, 2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This is a spirit I had years ago as one of my first introductions to bourbon. It has a spot in my heart, for sure, but I always seem to underestimate its goodness. 88/100

VITALS:
1792 Sweet Wheat Review

– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Barton 1792 Distillery
– Age: nas (early releases were 8 yrs.)
– Mash Bill: undisclosed
Likely: Corn=75%; Wheat=15%; Barley=10%
– Casks: new charred oak; Char: 3.5
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 45.6% (91.2 proof)
– Price: $36.95 USD in Idaho

Visit 1792bourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed this juice neat from a Glencairn glass with my father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

In the midst of stress and chaos (not unlike what one might find at a six-year-old’s birthday party where the children are a bit enthusiastic with the water balloons and the pinata has seen better days), this is a deep breath in a bottle. Tune out Timmy’s obnoxious dad and Susie’s gossiping mother with some spirit. Your soul will thank you for the calming respite and give you your own grown-up birthday cake to munch on. No, of course you don’t have to share! Have your cake and sip it too! 😉

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

NOSE:

So gentle and sweet on the nose. Softness is likely due to the wheat (hence the name). Nevertheless, the softness makes me think of red delicious apples. The bourbon warmth presents as a simple syrup that’s seconds from becoming caramel. New oak accompanies such flavors very nicely.

PALATE:

– Mouth feel: Soft. Not unlike a cloud.
– Balance: Great. Not heavy-handed with sweetness, but just right.
– Visual: A pretty tawny color, there is a clinging crown with very few legs.

– Taste: The softness (there really isn’t a better fitting word) of the grain is very present without a lot of bourbon burn. While I thought that apples would be dominant, there’s a citrus element that sits comfortably next to that apple. Not alt all bad. The caramelly bit mixes together with nutmeg. You know where I’m going with this. That’s right. Apple pie. Somebody get me some vanilla ice cream. I think the vanilla already sitting in the Glencairn on the taste is perfect to bring every flavor out and help each one be heard and appreciated.

I’m pleased to say that a Kentucky chew just makes everything pop more.

FINISH:

– Lasting power: As far as a bourbon feel goes, short finish. As for flavors… maybe medium. It’s not a bad thing either. The shortness fits with the story this spirit is trying to tell.

– No More: The vanilla grows in intensity the further I get down the glass. The pastry of the pie somehow morphs into a vanilla cake. I know. Weird. While I love the pie, this is still nice. Definitely gives very soothing vibes.

The empty Glencairn glass smells like subtle oak, vanilla, and caramel. *sigh*

WORTH THE PRICE?

Yes

RATING: 88/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

To access other whiskies with this rating, click 88/100.
Click 1792 Barton to see other whiskies from this distillery.

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