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 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– Barrel Char: unpublished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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