Hannah’s Maker’s Mark FAE-01 Bourbon Review
Original review written October 12, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This one is full of unique flavor, but with a strange bittersweet-ness going on, and at $60 USD nonetheless, this one of the Wood Finishing Series I’ll pass on. 83/100
VITALS:
– Loretto, Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Maker’s Mark Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Wheated Whiskey; Wood Finishing Series
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=16%; Malted barley=14%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Non-chill filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– ABV: 55.3% (110.6 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho (2021)
Visit makersmark.com for more information on the wood staves used for this bourbon
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
I imagine enjoying a cool fall afternoon with some Maker’s FAE-01, trudging through puddles and smiling at the splash that they create. There’s enough going on to keep you intrigued, while being able to put it on the back burner when one puddle looks too tempting to ignore.
Photo by Gary Ellis on Unsplash
NOSE:
Rainer cherries, vanilla custard and even some dark blackberries come out of the glass first; however, I wouldn’t say the nose is definitively only fruity sweetness. I also get some nutty toffee that is quite apparent, along with some smoked maple. In fact, the smokiness on the maple even is as if it’s paired with something savory like bacon. (I’m not sure if I’ve ever gotten this flavor on the nose of a whiskey before.) The maple bacon together still works to be sweet overall, and I daresay it’s as though I’m smelling maple bacon donuts. It goes along with a wood, but I’m not convinced that it is an oaky woodiness, rather perhaps cedar, as it’s a bit more bold.
Now that the glass has had a moment to breathe, it’s hard to find those initial fruity tones, but I cannot ignore that they were definitely there. There is a scent of alcohol too (much like finger nail polish remover alcohol), but it isn’t overly affronting, and it certainly is not going to burn.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: This has a mellow mouth feel. Nothing too noteworthy, other than it just isn’t bad.
– Balance: The blend of all of the flavors works, but it still allows for all of them to be discernable from each other, so I wouldn’t call it entirely seamless.
– Visual: Tawny in color, there are many clinging droplets as well as fast-dropping, thick legs.
– Taste: While not coming across as dark, this has the bittersweet-ness of molasses on the first sip, along with even some honey notes. The molasses lends itself to a cookie-like element that definitely does make me smile. With it comes almost an artificial grape flavor that comes from cough syrup. It is brightened up noticeably by some golden delicious apples that prevent that artificial grape from getting too gritty in texture. The wood takes over for the texture side of things and seems to have converted from the cedar of the nose to decidedly oak.
I wouldn’t say that this is overly complex, but it’s still relatively decent. It’s certainly unique given the flavor profile I’ve found in it. The flavors aren’t exactly all my favorites (except the molasses cookies), but they somehow manage to work together well enough. I think if anything I’m just quite confused by this bourbon.
The alcohol is mild, and I can let it sit on my palate for some time without even feeling a burn. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the bittersweet notes comes back in spades, turning that molasses cookie into more of a buttery shortbread that is just a little short on vanilla. Still, the alcohol isn’t bothersome and any burn from the chew fades relatively quickly.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium-long. I get some warmth and some residual flavor, but it’s the warmth that lasts the longest.
– Between Sips: The bittersweet flavors from the palate are most recognizable here between sips, and I’m a little disheartened by this.
– No More: This gets more briny the further into the glass that I get, which only works to make my palate more confused.
The empty Glencairn is a mild oak that just leaves me wanting. It could be deeper, richer… a whole host of things, and it just is not.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Out of the Wood Finishing Series, I will definitely say that this one is not my favorite, and I do not think I’d buy it again, regardless of what the price is. It’s not a bad bourbon, and if you love the unique flavors, I would assume $60 would be a fair price. Nevertheless, I don’t think I’ll lament too much once this bottle is gone.
MAKER’S MARK FAE-01 BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 83/100
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