Category: Wheated Whiskey

Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Review:

reviewed 28-November-2022

MAKER’S MARK BRT-2 BOURBON REVIEW:

Maker’s Mark BRT-02 (BRT-02) is a fine bourbon and represents what Maker’s is doing with their Wood Series quite well. The aromas are awesome and the flavors follow them nicely, although I feel they are a bit subdued. BRT-02 is a maple and caramel bomb with some nice dark cherry, baking spices and a little dry old oak as well. For those who like caramel, maple, oak and a long finish, be sure to pick up a bottle if and when you get the chance.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-2 VITAL STATS:
Maker's Mark BRT-02

Category: Straight Bourbon, Finished Bourbon
Region: Loretto, KY
Company: Beam Suntory
Distillery: Maker’s Mark, DSP-KY-44
Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: 110
Finishing staves: 10 Virgin Toasted French Oak Staves added to the barrel during the last eight weeks of maturation.
Age: nas
Non-chill filtered
ABV: 54.7% (109.4 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 19500
Release Date: Fall 2022
Price: $59.95 (Idaho, November 2022)

MAKER’S MARK 2022 BRT WOOD FINISHING SERIES:

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 react and impart dark depth.

Click Maker’s Mark 2022 BRT Wood Finishing Series Release to learn more.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into three Glencairns. My daughters and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out Hannah’s and Elora’s reviews for this bourbon!

MAKER’S MARK BRT-2 NOSE:

The first waft of BRT-02 is warm and inviting. As I settle in, roasted corn and dusty wheat fade in and out. Then, red berries, caramel dipped cherries and other dark fruit mix with faint cinnamon and nutmeg. But more than anything, sweetness dominates the nose as rich vanilla, brown sugar, buttery caramel, maple syrup and dark molasses take turns on center stage. Under the sweets, I detect a solid foundation of roasted pinenuts, dry old oak planks and timber and the haze of barrel staves drying in the sun.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-2 PALATE:

As I sip, BRT-02 gives my mouth a mild burn with roasted corn and dusty wheat tempting the tongue. Like on the nose, I taste those dark caramel covered cherries, something I’ve not enjoyed before. They go nicely with warm baking spices of cinnamon, clove and black pepper. The sweets come through as well; dark chocolate, rich vanilla, burnt sugar, caramel, and dark molasses. Then maple syrup punches through, and the other sweets fade. As they do, I taste a bit of tongue depressor which may have been used to stir the syrup. There are a few roasted nuts in the pour along with a solid base of old dry seasoned oak, hazy char and ash.

Maker's Mark BRT-02

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
While there is a bit of a burn, giving my mouth and throat a gentle tickle for the most  part, BRT-02 is creamy and easy to hold. The maple goodness blends in from the aroma and taste, through to the finish. After each sip is downed, thin long legs break from the veil, as sparse fat droplets fall from a thick irregular crown back to the mahogany colored pool.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-2 FINISH:

Maker’s Mark BRT-02 offers a long, throat warming finish of over-roasted corn nicely balanced by wheaty softness. Like sensed on the nose and tasted on the palate, red berries, dark cherries, cinnamon and pepper fade after each sip. As they do, the sweetness of vanilla, brown sugar, and maple syrup drift over dry-roasted nuts, seasoned oak barrel char along with a hint of ash.

MY RATING: 88/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

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

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Maker's Mark BRT-02
Maker's Mark BRT-02

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

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

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

Full Review on 14-March-2023

Maker’s Mark BRT-02 is very much unlike its counterpart, the BRT-01. While the BRT-01 was powerful in both aromas and flavors, the BRT-02 is soft-spoken, containing more subtle tones with pleasant freshness accompanying them.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-02 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Elora’s Maker’s Mark BRT-02

– Category: Straight Bourbon Finished with 10 Virgin Oak Staves
– Region: Loretto, KY
– Distillery: Beam Suntory
– Distillery: Maker’s Mark
– Mashbill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
– Barrel Char: unpublished
– Barrel Entry Proof: 109.4
– Age: nas
– Filtration: non-chill
– ABV: 54.7% (109.4 Proof)
– NABCA CSC#: 19500
– No batch or bottle number identifiers
– Size: 750 ML
– Price: $59.95
Learn more Maker’s Mark.

ENJOYMENT METHOD

I enjoyed this bourbon neat while listening to miscellaneous music from numerous genres.

Check out Brian’s review here and Hannah’s review here!

AROMA

There is a strong whiff of oak in this bourbon when I first smell it, along with some fruity tones. Dark cherries emerge as well as pineapple, lime, and mango. This is already proving to be quite a tropicalbeverage, which is both intriguing and unusual for me, as I am used to warm, deep flavors being dominant. That being said, I can still detect some darker scents, such as browned butter, almost-burnt caramel, and brown sugar. There is also a baking element to this; I can smell sugar cookies and vanilla cake with a sugar glaze frosting. After noting these aromas, I am eager to give this beverage a try.

TASTE
Elora’s Maker’s Mark BRT-02

Feel: It doesn’t immediately burn the mouth when I let it settle on my tongue, and it doesn’t bloom
out from the chest. It rather leaves a comforting warmth all the way through, and after each sip, I am
encouraged to drink some more.
Balance: This bourbon has a very strong oaky and hardy background. Other elements like the fruity,
sugary, and brighter notes are still present, but they more highlight what is going on in the base of the
dram. While I think a strong foundation is great, I think I would like to taste slightly more of all of the
other flavors.
Visual: The color is very similar to that of Flame, and I can clearly see an outline of a crown with small,
thick droplets coming down from it. The legs aren’t as pronounced, but I can tell that they are long,
skinny, and very close to one another.

Immediately, I am greeted by woody and nutty flavors. Sweetened oak is very dominant as well as baked
peanuts and pecans. I do get some of the tropical scents that I detected in the nose, like mango and
pineapple, but they are subtle. One strong taste that I can get that was similar in the aroma is a baking
element. Again, I am able to get a tone of sugar cookies and vanilla cake. There is also a hint of
freshness; some elements of that are cool mint, parsley and cilantro leaves, and, though unusual, cold
mineral water. I am not getting too many spices, but there is some brininess to this. Just as I predicted,
this is a very interesting bourbon, and it leaves me with wanting more.

FINISH

To me, the finish is a medium length to a long one, but only in the feeling. The flavors dissipate first from
the sugary baked goods and fade into a pleasant freshness. I get a lot of the fresh herbs that I listed in
the taste, as well as the oak and nuts, but not so much of the other flavors. The refreshing feeling is what
lingers the most.

SONG CHOICE

“Young Blood” by Noah Kahan1
“October” by Eric Whitacre2

Unlike the Maker’s Mark BRT-01 Bourbon, this drink seems to be much more soft-spoken and mellow.
There are both bright and dark traits to it, but they are softer to me. “Young Blood” by Noah Kahan is a
song that encourages its listeners to try to live life the best that they can rather than just survive the
motions. This song, as of late, has been one I have gravitated to in my dark moments, and it convinces
me to try to find ways to enjoy life as a time for me to always keep learning and growing.

As for the symphonic selection. I went with Eric Whitacre’s tone poem, “October.” It demonstrates not only the warm
tones that can be found in the changing leaf colors, but also the emergence of cooler and brisker weather.

WORTH THE PRICE?

While I do enjoy what this bourbon has to offer, I would be less inclined to spend $60 on this. To me, I feel
like I can find bourbons with similar aromas and flavors for a lower price. I might be convinced to splurge
on it only to compare with its counterpart, the BRT-01, but that’s about it.

GET IT AGAIN?

As I stated in the Worth the Price, it’s a fine bourbon. I could be convinced to get it again – but for
a lower price.

RATING: 86%

To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.

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ELORA’S MAKER’S MARK BRT-02 BOURBON CITATIONS

1Noah Kahan, “Young Blood”, June 26, 2017, Noah Kahan – Young Blood (Official Video), [YouTube], Album: Busyhead
2Eric Whitacre, “October”, November 8, 2014, October, [YouTube], Album: North Texas Wind Symphony: Passions

Elora’s Maker’s Mark BRT-01 Bourbon Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Elora’s Maker’s Mark BRT-01 Bourbon Review

Maker’s Mark BRT-01 Bourbon offers an explosion of scents and flavors that is bound to attract almost all bourbon novices and experts. I hope you all enjoy my review on this wonderful drink.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-01 VITAL STATS:
Maker's Mark BRT-01 Bourbon

– Category: Straight Bourbon Finished with 10 Virgin Toasted Oak Staves
– Region: Loretto, KY
– Distillery: Beam Suntory
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark
– Mashbill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
– Barrel Char: unpublished
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– Age: nas
– Filtration: non-chill
– ABV: 54.7%
– NABCA CSC#: 19499
– Release Date: Fall 2022
– Size: 750 ML
– Price: $59.95

Learn more at Maker’s Mark.

ENJOYMENT METHOD

I enjoyed this bourbon neat with my father and sister while listening to acapella covers of popular music.

Check out Brian’s review here
and Hannah’s review here!

AROMA

There is so much to offer with this bourbon. Fruity tones, such as chocolate-covered cherries and coconut shavings and orange and lime zest, provide a nice vibrancy. There are also several sugary notes, like maple sugar, caramel, baked blueberries, saltwater taffy, gingerbread, and cane sugar. In addition, there are notes of sweet smoke and oak, peppercorn, salt, peanuts, corn, and nutmeg. All I can really say is, “Wow, wow, wow!” I truly hope it will be just as tasty as what I am smelling.

TASTE

Feel: It feels like a comforting warmth in the mouth. It is smooth and viscous, but it doesn’t really bloom in the chest; it just settles there until it dissipates.
Balance: This has such a great balance. I am able to get flavors out of nearly all of the categories of our bourbon wheel, and I don’t really feel like any of these are overpowering each other.
Visual: To me, the color resembles that of mahogany. When I look at the glass, I can see big, fat, long legs and droplets as well as a faint outline of a crown.

Maker's Mark BRT-01 Bourbon

The taste is different from what I got in the aroma, but it still impresses me. The initial flavors I get are more on the nutty side; peanuts, browned butter, and salted sunflower seeds emerge quickly. After this, I get a lot of sweeter tones, such as caramel, honey, berry cobbler, cherry, vanilla, browned sugar, and maple syrup. There are also a few hints of salt, crackers, and peppercorns.

I want to mention, this bourbon is unlike any that I have ever had. If there was a drink that I could compare to each season of a year, it would be this. Not only do I detect numerous flavors that one could find in spring and summer, but I can also find cooler tones, such as mint and pine. I know it sounds a bit abstract, but honestly, there’s no other way I can truly describe this. This is just a perfect beverage to have in any part of the year.

FINISH

As intricate and powerful these aromas and tastes are, the finish for me doesn’t last as long. It grows in the mouth, going from warm to hot, and settles in the chest, but dissipates after a short to moderate amount of time. The specific flavors that I get are mostly deep fruits, dark sugars, charred woods, and cool earth. My mouth feels refreshed after the flavors fade out, and I am more than eager to take another sip.

SONG CHOICE

“IV. Allegro con fuoco” from Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 From
the New World2

There were so many elements to this bourbon. It had so much to offer, and so much to show. Therefore, I wanted to choose a couple of powerful soundtracks that would fit it. Both “Unstoppable” and “IV. Allegro con fuoco” have powerful and motivating melodies and harmonies. I hope you enjoy this strong drink while listening to these equally strong songs.

WORTH THE PRICE?

This powerhouse of a bourbon for just short of $60? Absolutely! This is a very fair price, and I would be more than happy to splurge on it to keep it on my shelf.

GET IT AGAIN?

I would most certainly get this again. This bourbon, to me, was like a work of art. There were so many elements, so many colors. Every time I went in to smell and taste the bourbon, it was different.

RATING: 96%

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Elora’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

ELORA’S MAKER’S MARK BRT-01 CITATIONS

1The Score, “Unstoppable, July 15th, 2016, The Score – Unstoppable (Official Audio), The Score (YouTube Channel), Album: Carry On
2Antonín Dvořák, “IV. Allegro con fuoco” from Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, B. 178 From the New World, December 28, 2017, Gustavo Dudamel Dvorak Symphony no 9 4th movement Allegro con fuoco, Pablo Sallato (YouTube Channel)