Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

MAKER’S MARK WOOD-FINISHING SERIES SHOWDOWN Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Maker’s 46 French Oaked Cask Strength Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Limited Release Maker’s Mark The Heart Release 2024 Maker’s Mark The Keeper’s Release 2025 Maker’s Mark Private Selection Unique Stave Selection 086/246 (TL;DR: The BRT-02 wins easily). This tasting started as an evaluation of three Maker’s Mark Finishing Series bourbons: The Heart Release 2024, The Keeper’s Release 2025, and a Private Selection Unique Stave Selection. Then I decided I needed a baseline, so I opened a bottle of Maker’s 46 French Oaked Cask Strength (everything needs context). That led to needing a baseline for the MM46, so I grabbed a Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. Finally, I realized I had an unopened BRT-02 and decided to add it to the lineup. So we’ll start with the baselines: first the standard MM Cask Strength, then the MM46 Cask Strength, and those followed by the others in the order they were released. I sampled these bourbons over several days. I enjoy Maker’s Mark and their Wood-Finishing Series, which began with Maker’s 46 years ago. All whiskies—bourbon, Scotch, Irish, Japanese—have experimented with special releases with mixed results, typically focused on barrels that previously held another wine or spirit. So when Maker’s developed the 46 project further, I was eager to test them (all in the pursuit of knowledge). Maker’s Mark Cask Strength While I’ve always kept a bottle of Maker’s at home, and have been a big fan of Maker’s 46 since its debut, I’ve never been a Maker’s Mark Cask Strength devotee (and I prefer high-proof bourbon). My lukewarm feelings never made sense to me, as I’ve always considered Barrel Proof and Cask Strength whiskies to be more genuine expressions of their lower-proof counterparts. MM Cask Strength had a flavor I could never quite identify—there was a musty quality. And with this tasting, I believe I’ve pinpointed it, right in front of me. It’s the wood—but it tastes like aged wood. Bourbon by definition must be aged in charred new American oak, so “legally” it shouldn’t be old. But this wood doesn’t provide the rich vanilla and other notes that new oak typically offers—and which is the entire philosophy behind Maker’s Wood Finishing series. Compared to the other five bourbons here, the Cask Strength seems dull; the wood isn’t contributing much. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength can be found for about $45. Would I buy it again? Yes, to keep on hand, but mainly for cocktails due to the high ABV. Batch No. 21-02. 55.2% ABV. Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength Much more vibrant and complex than the regular Cask Strength. Also richer and more intense than the Heart, Keeper’s, and Private Selection; in comparison, these others seem somewhat more subtle. The MM46 is a bit more unified than the others, but its depth and richness are compelling. Consistent with previous notes (10/12/23). Hot chocolate, cocoa, dried apricot, cola, vanilla, and yes, a hint of dill. Plenty of oak. Cinnamon apples and clove on the palate. A medium-length finish with abundant oak characteristics. Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength can be purchased for around $60. Would I buy it again? Yes. Batch 24-01. 55.3% ABV. Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Limited Release (2022) Sophistication and potency. Sweet and fruity: cocoa, espresso, dates, caramel apple, smoked BBQ, oak, vanilla. The smoothest of the group—by a significant margin—despite a proof range of only 2.8 percentage points among these six bourbons. Finishes exceptionally long with chocolate fudge and maple candy. BRT-02 can still be located for approximately $140 online (I had no idea). This is an outstanding bourbon. Would I buy it again? It’s pricey, but it offers good value. Yes. Stave Profile: 10 virgin toasted French Oak staves. 54.7% ABV. Maker’s Mark The Heart Release 2004 I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed this bourbon before, as this pour was the last from the bottle. The label states “Caramel, Chocolate, Maple.” In reality, this practice—used by many distillers—is more accurately described as “suggesting flavors.” Caramel is a common bourbon note; chocolate in various forms is also typical. Maple, a bit less so. I don’t really detect maple here. Chocolate-covered cherries? Yes, and perhaps some cocoa. Pipe tobacco? New saddle leather? Yes and yes. And spearmint. The palate isn’t particularly thick. Cinnamon red hots and clove on the finish, with wood tannins and a cooling licorice. The alcohol is noticeable, and slightly out of balance; I’ve experienced higher-proofed spirits that were better integrated. The Heart Release was introduced at $75 retail, and can still be found online for slightly more. While it’s true that many spirits have more prestige, and perhaps better promotion, the market forces are indicating something here. I own spirits that have increased tenfold in value since purchase. I’ve never bought a spirit as an investment—I consume them—but scarcity significantly influences price, and apparently there are plenty of these still available. Either A) Maker’s produced an excessive amount; B) discerning drinkers weren’t particularly impressed (this price point is aimed at enthusiasts; it’s not for mixing); or C) all of the above. I enjoyed this bourbon, and have no regrets buying it, but it’s not particularly remarkable, unlike the earlier FAE and BEP releases. It is more fruity (and maybe more complex) than the Maker’s 46 Cask Strength when tasted side-by-side. Would I buy it again? Perhaps, just to have it for comparison with others. Stave Profile: 10 virgin toasted French oak staves. Volume 1 of 5. Bottled June 2024. 56.0% ABV. Maker’s Mark The Keeper’s Release 2005 The bottle reads: “Bold, Oak, Toasted Sweetness.” The bourbon drinker wonders: “And?” An F for originality. But not quite “nothing to see here;” we still must taste it. Because science. I detect a prominent cherry cordial note on the nose, along with sawdust (not necessarily a bad thing), cocoa, mocha (coffee’s counterpart, but not coffee itself), apple? spearmint, and (surprise!) oak. Neither particularly oily nor thick on the palate. A multitude of oaky tannins mixed with alcohol. A cooling spearmint and licorice note throughout, with bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and espresso on the finish, with a peach note appearing very, very late. Is it “Bold?” I certainly hope so. This isn't 80-proof Beam on the rocks. This is bourbon exceeding bottled-in-bond standards. Also neat. Is it “Oak?” Yes, bourbon by definition must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. The same applies to “Toasted Sweetness.” The oak is toasted (charred), and the oak is the source of the various “sweet” descriptors. Ignore my previous comment: the market has spoken. The Keeper’s Release can still be found for around its release price of $75. Would I buy it again? Possibly, for the same reason as the 2024 Heart Release—to continue exploring the different Maker’s expressions. I like this slightly better than the Heart Release, but they aren't very different. Stave Profile: 10 virgin toasted American oak staves. Release 2 of 5. Bottled February 2025. 54.6% ABV. Maker’s Mark Unique Stave Selection 086/246 Most oak-forward (not quite simply woody) of the three. Marzipan, cocoa, peaches—sweeter than the others. More body than the Heart or Keeper’s. Vanilla, chocolate fudge, and licorice on the finish. All of these Unique Stave Selections are distinct. However, variants, including this one, can be found for approximately $85. Would I buy it again? I would return to the store where I purchased this particular expression for another bottle. Stave Profile: Baked American Pure (0); seared French cuvée (3); Maker’s Mark 46 (1); roasted French mendiant (5); toasted French spice (1). No. 086/246. 55.35% ABV. I sampled these bourbons over several days, in small quantities. Each feels somewhat clunky compared to the elegant and complex BRT-02. The 46 is the most intense; the Unique Stave Selection the sweetest. 1. BRT-02 Limited Release 2. Private Selection Unique Stave Selection 086/246 3. Maker’s 46 French Oaked Cask Strength 4. The Heart Release 2024 5. The Keeper’s Release 2025 6. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Six Glencairns of bourbon tasted side by side is always enlightening. It would be challenging to analyze these bourbons individually (and all six together presents its own difficulties). These recent special releases don't reach the level of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged series, which are notable. Nor do they match the caliber of their FAE and BRT predecessors from the early 2020s. And while I'm doubtful of private barrel selections from any retailer—does anyone truly believe a distiller would offer a retailer its best barrels instead of keeping them—in this specific instance, the private selection tasted here was in many ways superior to the other more prominent releases. And then there’s the Maker’s 46 French Oaked Cask Strength itself. This expression is priced only $10-15 less than the special releases. It represents the best value among them.

MAKER’S MARK CASK STRENGTH SHOWDOWN Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength As previously stated, I really enjoy Maker’s Mark’s wood-finishing line, which began with Maker’s 46. Maker’s 46 Cask Strength is a fairly recent release, becoming widely available in 2020. Maker’s 46 is considerably superior to the standard Maker’s Mark; let's see if that holds for their cask strength versions. These two are almost identical in proof, with the main distinction being the extra wood staves in the Maker’s 46. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Appearance is a clear, bourbon-like Pantone 152. Noticeable ethanol on the nose presents tangerine, sawdust, bananas foster, cocoa powder, rosin, a mild guava, and cinnamon. The alcohol is also prominent on the palate, showing significant oak and vanilla, with more on the finish, alongside a slight woody tannic bitterness. There's a substantial amount of wood present. As I taste and pause, then switch between this and the 46CS, there's a fluctuation between pleasing complexity and an overwhelming woodiness. Maker’s approach has always been to bottle to taste, not age; perhaps the focus on the regular MM detracts from its cask-strength counterpart. There's much to appreciate, if only the wood character were toned down. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength costs approximately $40. Would I purchase it again? Yes. 110.4 proof. NAS. Batch no. 21-02. Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength Color is nearly the same as the regular MM Cask Strength, Pantone 152. The nose is different; warmer, sweeter, and gentler than the standard cask strength, featuring hot chocolate, coffee, caramel, dried apricot, a hint of dill, and vanilla, plus a whiff of char. While the alcohol isn't as noticeable on the nose as with the MMCS—despite the very similar proof—it becomes apparent on the finish, along with oak and abundant vanilla. There's a lot to enjoy here, but similar to the regular MMCS, there's considerable oak to work through. Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength is priced around $65, making it more expensive than Maker’s standard cask strength offering. Would I purchase it again? (This bottle was a gift). Yes. Based on proof alone, the price offers good value in the current market, and it's good besides—better than the standard cask strength offering. A bit less wood would easily elevate this into the 4.0 range; I'm curious to sample other batches to see if that's the case. 110.3 proof. NAS. Batch no. 23-01. There are numerous potential "showdown" matchups, considering commonalities in producers, types, styles, and proofs. My next step is to compare the regular 46 (I have an older bottle) directly with this 46 Cask Strength. From recollection, I prefer the regular 46; however, I will need to verify that assumption in a future review. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

I've enjoyed Maker's 46 since it first came out about 14 years ago. I usually prefer MM46 over the standard label, but I find the MM101 to be the most satisfying of Bill Samuels' contributions to the whiskey world. It's been a while since I had a bottle of the 46 on my shelf, and seeing the cask strength expression sitting there by itself... Tasted neat from a grappa copita after a few minutes to rest. This is the last of the bottle, a perfect 1.5oz pour. I've had this in an Old Fashioned, a couple of Manhattan variations, on the rocks, and neat, and the bottle went from neck pour to final pour quickly. The nose has cherries in syrup, almonds, walnuts, caramel, and brown sugar. It's sweet, but definitely not cloying. There's a hint of ethanol and a touch of latex paint that suggests the 110+ proof. Texture is silky and not quite as rich as the absolute best cask strength whiskeys can be. Still, it's quite good. The flavor is rich with slightly bitter wood tannin that contrasts with the sugar from the corn and the bready richness of the wheat. The profile is familiar 46 with the volume turned up a bit – or perhaps the saturation was adjusted slightly. There's more contrast than I recall from my last bottle of MM46, but that bitter element is also present. The finish is moderate and not particularly memorable. There's a slight peppery note and some residual syrup that coats the back of the palate. Yes, I like this quite a bit. It's an excellent bourbon and a favorite wheated expression. However, I'm not blown away. It doesn't have the intense flavor of Knob Creek 120 proof. It's not a Stagg Jr. killer at 111 proof. It's good, but not great. I rate on a bell curve where the average product scores between 2 and 3; the center of the distribution. This is much better than average, but not quite good enough to be in the top 20%.

I'm a big admirer of Maker's 46. Maker's Mark Cask Strength offered a significant enhancement over the base MM. If that's the case here, I'm in for a tremendous delight. I do appreciate the chance to try a solid reduced-proof product in its undiluted form. It's a rare occasion. Without further delay, let's discover what CS does for a great base product. Nose: Vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar. Graham cracker and burnt marshmallow. Toasted almond. Cinnamon. Sun-dried tomato. Orange citrus. Raisin. Sawdust. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Vanilla, marshmallow, caramel, brown sugar, milk chocolate, and a hint of fudge. Graham cracker and milk chocolate. Raisin and maple. Apple and cherry. Orange citrus. Cocoa, tobacco smoke, and black pepper. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Raisin and cola. Sawdust. Cocoa, black pepper, black tea, and tobacco smoke. Graham cracker and toasted almond. Clove, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and oak. It lasts as long as they come. Damn good bourbon. The aroma was surprisingly restrained. The palate made up for it significantly, and the finish concludes this in a powerful manner. My primary criticism here is that the French Oak finish and the wheated mash bill seem to lend themselves to be best appreciated in their less intense form. This is an unusual instance where I actually prefer the diluted version over the undiluted one. This meets expectations for value for money. At $63, it's not substantially more expensive than the standard 46. It delivers in terms of quality. I'm very pleased I acquired this bottle. It's an interesting pour, and it makes me eager to open a fresh bottle of the standard 46. Well done, MM. 4/5.

Batch 23-02, at 110.1 proof. Pretty consistent for a cask strength release. The aroma is reminiscent of an old tea box with a slightly musty wood scent and a subtle hint of loose leaf green tea. Digging deeper reveals a touch of vanilla, followed by linseed oil and a fleeting note of cedar. Not overpowering on the nose, but keep in mind this bottle has been open and mostly consumed for over a year, so your experience may differ. The palate is pleasantly spicy, with a prominent blast of cardamom and nutmeg leading. The oak is quite present, overshadowing much of the wheat's sweetness. It offers an oily, almost chewy texture with oak astringency and tannins skillfully balanced by vanilla and a touch of molasses. The finish is clean, short, and dominated by oak. This is clearly a well-conceived and crafted product. The way the legs move up the glass is almost captivating, and for an age-stated wheated bourbon, the complexity of the palate and nose is quite impressive. It makes no mistakes and excels in many areas. Apart from a select few private selections, this is my preferred bottling from the series, and I suggest it to anyone who finds one available.

2023, Batch 23-02. Mashbill 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley, aged 4 years, finished with 10 French oak staves, bottled at 110.1 proof. Tasting neat. A bright copper color with good coating legs in the glass. The aroma is brown sugar, cinnamon and baking spice, oak char, grassy, and some ethanol. Quite pleasant. In the mouth, burnt sugar, char, cinnamon, vanilla, followed by dry tannic oak. Dark, with a little cherry, and then dry, keeping the sweetness in check. Slightly oily, but a thin mouthfeel, with appropriate ethanol tingle and heat. The finish has dried fruit, char, tannins, and dryness. Average length. An ice cube mellows the tannic oak and allows that sweet wheated bourbon to come through. It's a Makers Mark profile with an added dose of French oak and at cask strength. Not unexpected, but what's not to like? Ok, I prefer the initial 2020 taller rounded bottle and cork from the Wood Finishing Series over this traditional squared MM bottle and screw cap, but... that's just the packaging. Overall, a solid high-proof wheated bourbon.