Maker's Mark Cask Strength Batch 18-01 (111.5 Proof)

Maker's Mark is a go-to whisky for me. Maker's 46 is one of the most overlooked. And the Private Select is among the best cask strength bourbons. This represents the natural progression in Maker's Mark's lineup. Classic bottle style. Batch No. 18-01. 55.75% ABV. Nose: Brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla. Notes of baked apple pie and cherry. Orange cream soda. Dried apricot. Hints of pistachio and walnut. Woody, sawdust aromas. Ethanol, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and oak. Palate: Brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, toffee, and cocoa. Flavors of Gala apple and cherry. Pistachio, pecan, and chestnut. Notes of orange peel, pumpkin spice, pipe smoke, and black pepper. Sawdust and woody undertones. Tastes like Red Hot Tamales. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ethanol. Finish: Brown sugar, caramel, cocoa, and cola. Gala apple and cherry notes. Pistachio and walnut. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. It lasts as long as you'd expect from a 55.75% ABV bourbon. Another successful release from Maker's Mark. The nose and finish are strong, but the finish truly sets it apart. And at $55, this bottle offers excellent value—and more. This, Private Select, and the various annual Wood Finish Series releases occupy a unique space—that being cask strength wheated bourbons. Exploring these different versions has been interesting, and for the most part, they are all high quality. I rate this 4.5. The finish and value for money are major factors. This is a 2018 bottling. Your experience may differ. But based on my initial bottle, I strongly endorse MMCS.