But not Maker’s. They continued to drag their feet until it became obvious that they had to do something more to stay relevant. Maker’s reluctantly enters the cask strength market

With its distinct character and unique production process, this bourbon is a must-try for any bourbon connoisseur. Although they are from different pricing segments, there is a lot to be learned by pouring a couple fingers of bourbon and putting them side-by-side for a blind taste comparison: Original recipe vs. wheat bourbon being foremost. These two brands were never meant to compete side-by-side. They are positioned in separate price segments to appeal to customers within entirely different demographics. The Maker’s 46 is creamier and more decadent with bolder cherry and toasted oak notes, more spices with added complexity and an oilier mouthfeel. The complexity continues on the finish. A fantastic glass of bourbon. After your bourbon distiller has completed fermentation and distillation, the new make spirit is ready to fill an American oak barrel and take a rest. The maturation process turns ‘white dog’ into whiskey and gives the clear distillate all its color and much of its flavor.I can say first-hand that Maker’s 46 is a unique product that really does present a different profile from standard Maker’s. The success of the 46 line inevitably led to the creation of the Private Selection line. But I don’t miss them as much since there are a few more curious flavors like chocolate and coffee beans. During one of John’s frequent travels, he managed to secure a bottle of this whiskey. And, to our delight, we’ve learned that Maker’s Mark 46 will soon be available in South Africa, making it easier to replace our beloved bottle when the time comes. Not as dry as Maker’s and with lots of caramel and dessert notes mixed with wood that slowly fades with a long finish. In 2014, Beam Inc. was acquired by Suntory. The U.S. holding company Beam Suntory was formed to oversee the North American portfolio.

In 2005, Allied Domecq was acquired by Pernod Ricard, who then sold the Maker’s Mark brand to Fortune Brands. Nose: There is a particular smell that only French Oak can impart on a whiskey – and the nose on this Maker’s is full of it. Not familiar with what French Oak can smell like? It’s a deeper, more impactful and more dessert-like experience. Maker’s Mark though, cought my eye again at the age of 25, its Red Wax seal, its intriguing bottle design.As an adult Maker’s is my go to whiskey, and it is actually the brand that got me into whiskey in the first place. I am normally a Beer man, and on occasion I would drink some expensive Rum. I always felt whiskey was too standard for me. I’m ashamed that I don’t give them their due but then bottles like this remind me how ashamed I should be. They’re a consistently reliable sip every time and I always forget about them.

In another blog post, I conducted a side-by-side comparison between Maker’s 46 and standard Maker’s Mark, revealing which one earned my preference. Maker’s Mark was lagging behind when it came to new product releases after the start of the bourbon boom. Other distilleries were keen on giving consumers all the things like single barrels, increased age statements, more barrel strength options, finished whiskies and new mash bills. Maker’s Mark is unique because it doesn’t include rye in its mash bill. Instead, it relies on red winter wheat (16%), corn (70%), and malted barley (14%). Also Read: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon Review and Tasting Notes for the Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon This is a story of two brands that today fall under the same ownership umbrella. It gives us the perfect opportunity to look at the industry’s history — and enjoy a brief economics lesson.

Give 46 a stir

There is also a heavy concentration of vanilla and toffee. The aroma of Tollhouse chocolate chips probably stems from the French Oak. Each sniff also contains some well-integrated fruit scents like fig and cherry. Color me impressed by how good the Cask Strength version of Maker’s 46 ended up being. I won’t say that I’m surprised though because secretly, I’ve always found Maker’s releases to be great. Palate: The one thing I’ve underlined multiple times in my notes is how impressively woody this tastes. No, it’s not over-oaked or bitter but yes you’re going to find it all the time. It’s spice-forward too with notes of white pepper, cinnamon and allspice. In 1968, American Tobacco acquired the Jim Beam brand under a new holding company called Fortune Brands. Wow the wheat comes up here. Sitting side by side with the wheat are cherries, caramel, vanilla, oak and a complex nose of a pastry shop and s candy store. Very sweet nose.

It is an excellent introduction to bourbon for someone who wants to explore it American bourbon more broadly. Maker’s 46 Bourbon Cherries, brandied fruit, toasted wood and vanilla spice. Adding a few drops of water brings out more spice and woody notes. The palate is rich and creamy with notes of oak, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. It’s not as deep as the nose would indicate, but it’s still soft and well-balanced. There’s a hint of Chai spice that I think deserves to be mentioned separately of the rest. Fruit notes are hard to find but probably would be exposed with some added water (or just buy a bottle of standard Maker’s 46).In 1917, Woodrow Wilson signed a temporary prohibition on alcohol to secure grain and ethanol capacity for the war effort during World War I. Allow me to pre face this review by saying that I am most certainly not a whiskey connoisseur. I won’t begin to pretend I could tell you every single nuance detail about this whisky’s flavor, Nor will I flatter myself by trying to make it sound like my palate the most refined and well trained. The coffee bean note hangs around from the palate and vanilla kind of rounds everything out. It still stays sweet enough to be a really satisfying experience overall. Score: 8/10 The “46” designation represents the culmination of countless experiments, with experiment No. 46 ultimately achieving the desired flavour profile.