Brian’s Maker’s Mark SE4xPR5 Bourbon Review:
reviewed 09-September-2021
MAKER’S MARK SE4xPR5 BOURBON REVIEW:
Maker’s SE4xPR5 began as standard Maker’s Mark, in batches of less than 1,000 gallons. Developed in partnership with Independent Stave Company, ten seasoned staves were placed in newly-emptied Maker’s barrels which were then refilled and warehoused for additional aging. The final product comes from a blend of 55% four week old PR5 stave aged bourbon, 32% five week aged SE4, and 13% six week aged SE4.
This bottle of Maker’s Mark SE4xPR5 (Maker’s SE4xPR5) has been lurking in the bunker for for over a year. It s a well balanced bourbon with nearly all fruit, spice, sweet and woody aromas and flavors passing through to the medium finish. SE4xPR5 is a fine pour.
MAKER’S MARK SE4xPR5 VITAL STATS:
Category: Wheated Whiskey
Region: Loretto, KY
Distillery: Maker’s Mark
Mashbill: 70% corn; 16% soft red winter wheat; 14% malted barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel Entry Proof: 110
Age: nas (believed to be about 6 years old)
Aging Stave Profile: SE4 – Virgin toasted American oak to enhance caramel notes and PR5 – Virgin French oak to enhance vanilla
ABV: 56.25% (112.5 Proof)
Purchase Price: $59.95 USD (2020 – Idaho)
“Our second-annual limited release from the Maker’s Mark® Wood Finishing Series is an utterly unique bourbon that’s also a worthy tribute to the one-of-a-kind vanilla and caramel taste notes that make our signature Maker’s Mark® so distinctive.”
— Maker’s Mark
Click Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series to learn more.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces were added to two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
MAKER’S MARK SE4xPR5 NOSE:
Maker’s SE4xPR5 has an intriguing non-assertive nose. At first waft, the bourbon smells of dry tannins with only a soft nip of alcohol. Then I sensed herbal roasted corn, dusty wheat and dried fruits of dark currents, raisins, and figs. The liquid is almost briny with baking spice notes of white pepper, allspice, and rich vanilla infused graham crackers. SE4xPR5’s sweet aromas come in as maple sugar candy and woody, dark caramel. Salty cashews build on the brine and provide a firm foundation as seasoned dried oak, toasted wood and dark barrel char round out this earthy treat.
MAKER’S MARK SE4xPR5 PALATE:
Maker’s SE4xPR5 offers little if any alcohol in each warming tannin filled sip. Most aromas pass to the palate as herbal roasted corn, dried currants and dark figs marry with spices of ginger, and black pepper. I also taste cinnamon dusted dark toasted wheat bread, faint vanilla and woody, dark salted caramel. Like the nose, this liquid treat is built on dry seasoned oak, toasted wood, barrel char, and a hint drowned campfire ash. SE4xPR5 is a leathery and deliciously earthy bourbon.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Maker’s SE4xPR5 is solid and well blended. The first sip is gentle, viscous, oily, and easy to hold. When each sip is downed, a curtain of syrupy liquid breaks into fat evenly spaced legs returning the liquid to the flame colored pool. Only a tiny droplet clinging crown remains.
MAKER’S MARK SE4xPR5 FINISH:
Just like on the nose and palate, Maker’s Mark SE4xPR5 has a medium length, tannin filled, dry and warm, non-assertive alcohol finish. Dried dark fruit, cinnamon and pepper are only slightly diminished as woody, dark caramel blends into earthy leather. As I finish the last drop, seasoned dry oak, toasted wood, and barrel char fade away as vanilla, caramel and oak waft up from the empty Glencairn.
MY RATING: 89/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series is something I will always purchase regardless of the rating of the last release.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 89/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.
WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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