Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 750ml

There’s an old joke at the distillery that goes, “If we could make it any faster, we wouldn’t.” Because at Maker’s Mark, it’s one bottle at a time. Every time. That’s as true today as it was when our founders filled our first bottle. And since then, it’s been a widely held belief around here that character isn’t made by machine.

Soft red winter wheat is the Maker’s Mark® flavoring grain and star of its mash bill. In a day when distiller’s rye – which can have an unwanted bite – was the go-to grain for whisky makers, Bill Samuels, Sr., set out for a flavor that would let his new bourbon stand out in the crowd. After some trial and error, he discovered exactly what he was thirsting for.

The limestone shelf where the distillery is located is key to crafting the unique taste of Maker’s Mark – the only distillery with its own water source and watershed. Kentucky limestone filters out iron from water, which is unpleasant in bourbon. The pure calcium- and magnesium-rich water surrounding the distillery makes better drinking water and a better sour mash in which yeast can flourish.

A yeast strain older than Maker’s itself
Sometimes the best, freshest ingredient available is an heirloom yeast strain that’s more than 150 years old. In fact, this highly guarded microorganism has been passed down to every bottle of Maker’s Mark ever produced. Would it have been easier to switch to cheaper stock yeast when everyone else was? Sure. But, it wouldn’t be better. And, it wouldn’t be Maker’s Mark.

The yeast ferments in tanks that are original to the old Burks Distillery that predates Maker’s Mark. They’re made from cypress planks more than 100 years old. Hard to source these days, cypress is ideal because it has no effect on the flavor of Maker’s Mark.

The perfect degree of char
It takes just 40 seconds of fire to achieve Maker’s Mark customary number-three char. The process of firing barrels opens pores in the staves and caramelizes the natural wood sugars. This helps give Maker’s Mark those pleasant vanilla notes. But before the firing can happen, the cooperage (or barrel-building company) must “season” the new American white oak used for our barrels outdoors for nine months, including summer. This helps remove the bitter tannins in the wood that would otherwise go into the bourbon.

Barrel rotation by hand
We rotate our 525-pound barrels by hand to ensure proper exposure to the different temperatures around the rackhouse. This adds consistency from barrel to barrel while setting us apart from distillers who abandoned the practice long ago. Barrels spend a minimum of three hot Kentucky summers in the top of the rackhouse where the whisky expands through the wood, gaining color and flavor. Our tasting panel determines when the whisky is ready to move to a cooler section, keeping it from maturing too quickly.

Wax
Similar to how it was in Margie’s kitchen all those years ago, Maker’s Mark is hand-dipped in 400-degree red wax. You can still check out the various dipping styles of the folks on our dipping line, from the skinny dipper to the no-nonsense dunker. You can even express your style by dipping your own bottle of Maker’s Mark at the distillery.

Label cutter
Our distinctive labels – another Margie Samuels original – are still cut on a hand-operated, 1935 Chandler & Price printing press. The trusty label maker has long been a part of Maker’s Mark. And, when the original finally wore down, an exact replacement was acquired. It’s currently on display or, rather, hard at work in our label room at the distillery.