Bill Samuels, Jr. set out to make his mark with Maker’s Mark 46.
Since 1953, Maker’s Mark has been churning out barrels of their original Maker’s Mark bourbon. The distillery was operating under the, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” mentality with one single expression. However in 2010, under the new generation of the Samuels family, Maker’s Mark 46 was released.
As the first new bourbon since 1953, Bill Samuels, Jr., really wanted to make a splash. To create Maker’s Mark 46, you essentially begin with a batch of the OG recipe that’s been aged for about 6 years. Exactly ten French oak staves are then placed inside fresh barrels, filled with the bourbon, and returned to age for a few more months. What’s left is a super deluxe and super delicious version of the original Maker’s.
As you might expect from the 10 French oak staves that were hanging out in the barrel, this bourbon’s aroma is all about toasted oak and honey. The sweetness continues into the flavor with vanilla, honey and caramel, and some light baking spices before rounding out into a big spicy, peppery finish.
Although the extra dose of oak helps it to stand out from the family, Maker’s Mark 46 still carries a bit of the familiar family flavor profile of light vanilla and smooth spice. At the end of the day, it’s Maker’s Mark – amplified. Plus, even though they leveled up the flavor, the brand managed to resist leveling up the price. You can get your hands on a bottle of Maker’s 46 for just a few bucks more than the traditional bottle, if you want to add some extra clout to your bar cart.
All together, we’d say Bill Samuels, Jr. did his old man proud with Maker’s Mark 46.
STATS: Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon
- Price for us: $39 for 750 mL
- Proof: 94
- Aged: Around 6 years + an additional estimated 2-3 months
- Distillery: Maker’s Mark, owned by Beam Suntory
- Recommendation: Neat
