The latest WftA Podcast Episode is ready to download! In this show, we delve into how women navigate the traditionally male-dominated world of whiskey.
Hannah and Elora Dawson, Whiskey for the Ages editors – and independent women, talk about the challenges they’ve met while purchasing their favorite pours. We’ll also consider recent industry news, and enjoy some brown liquid along the way.
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:
– 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– Distillery: Beam Suntory – Distillery: Maker’s Mark – Mashbill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley – Barrel Char: unpublished – Barrel Entry Proof: 109.4 – Age: nas – Filtration: non-chill – ABV: 54.7% (109.4 Proof) – NABCA CSC#: 19500 – No batch or bottle number identifiers – Size: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 reviewhereand Hannah’s reviewhere!
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
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.
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.
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:
– 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
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.
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.
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.
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)
