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:
– 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– Barrel Char: unpublished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
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