Maker's Mark Private Selection "A Unique Stave Selection" for Premier Wine & Spirits

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 in a landslide). This tasting began with three Maker’s Mark Finishing Series bourbons: The Heart Release 2024, The Keeper’s Release 2025, and a Private Selection Unique Stave Selection. To establish a baseline, I opened a bottle of Maker’s 46 French Oaked Cask Strength for context. This then necessitated a baseline for the MM46, so I got a Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. Finally, I found an unopened BRT-02 in my collection and decided to include it. We’ll start with the baselines: first the normal MM Cask Strength, then the MM46 Cask Strength, followed by the others in chronological order. I sampled these bourbons over several days. I like Maker’s Mark and their Wood-Finishing Series, which started with Maker’s 46 years ago. All spirits—bourbon, Scotch, Irish, Japanese—have seen experimental special releases with varied outcomes, usually centered on barrels that previously held another wine or spirit. So when Maker’s expanded the 46 project, I was eager to try them out (all in the pursuit of knowledge). Maker’s Mark Cask Strength While I always keep Maker’s at home and have been a big fan of Maker’s 46 since its debut, I’ve never been passionate about Maker’s Mark Cask Strength (and I prefer high-proof bourbon). My lukewarm feeling never made sense, as I’ve always seen Barrel Proof and Cask Strength whiskies as more genuine versions of their lower-proof counterparts. MM Cask Strength had a taste I couldn’t quite identify—a musty note. And with this tasting, I believe I’ve pinpointed it, right in front of me. It’s the wood—but it tastes old. Bourbon, by its nature, must be aged in charred new American oak, so legally it shouldn’t taste old. But this wood doesn’t provide the rich vanilla and other flavors that new oak typically offers—which is the core idea 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 is available for about $45. Would I purchase it again? Yes, to keep on hand, but mainly for cocktails due to the high ABV. 3.75 out of 5 stars. Batch No. 21-02. 55.2% ABV. Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength Considerably richer and deeper than the standard Cask Strength. Also richer and more potent than the Heart, Keeper’s, and Private Selection; in comparison, these 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 indeed, a hint of dill. Significant oak presence. Cinnamon apples and clove on the palate. Medium-length finish with prominent oak characteristics. Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Cask Strength can be purchased for around $60. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.0 out of 5 stars. Batch 24-01. 55.3% ABV. Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Limited Release (2022) Refined and potent. Sweet and fruity: cocoa, espresso, dates, caramel apple, smoked BBQ, oak, vanilla. The most mellow of the group—by a wide margin—despite the proof range of only 2.8 percentage points among these six bourbons. Very long finish with chocolate fudge and maple candy. BRT-02 can still be found for approximately $140 online (I had no clue). This is an outstanding bourbon. Would I purchase it again? It’s not inexpensive, but it offers good value. Yes. 4.5+ out of 5 stars. 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 was the last pour from the bottle. The label suggests “Caramel, Chocolate, Maple.” In reality, this approach—used by many distillers—is more accurately described as “leading the witness.” Caramel is a common bourbon flavor; chocolate in various forms is also frequent. Maple, somewhat 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 encountered higher-proofed whiskies 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 whiskies have more prestige, and perhaps better promotion, the market’s Invisible Hand is indicating something here. I own whiskies that have increased tenfold in value since I bought them. I’ve never purchased a whisk(e)y as an investment—I consume them—but scarcity is a major factor in price, and apparently, there are still plenty of these available. Either A) Maker’s produced an excessive amount; B) enthusiasts weren’t particularly impressed (this price point targets enthusiasts; it’s not for mixing); or C) all of the above. I enjoyed this bourbon and have no regrets about buying it, but it’s not particularly remarkable, unlike the earlier FAE and BEP releases. It’s fruitier (and possibly 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. 4.0 out of 5 stars. 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 have to drink it. Because science. I detect a distinct cherry cordial note on the nose, along with sawdust (not necessarily a negative), cocoa, mocha (coffee’s companion, but not coffee itself), apple? spearmint, and (predictably!) oak. Neither particularly oily nor viscous on the palate. A wave of oaky tannins mixed with alcohol. A cooling spearmint and licorice note throughout, with bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and espresso on the finish, and 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 strength. 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” descriptions. Forget my earlier comments: the market has made its decision. The Keeper’s Release can still be found for around its $75 release price. Would I buy it again? Possibly, for the same reason as the 2024 Heart Release—to continue exploring the different Maker’s expressions. I prefer this slightly over the Heart Release, but they aren’t very different. 4.0+ out of 5 stars. 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 The most wood-forward (not exactly woody, but close) of the three. Marzipan, cocoa, peaches—sweeter than the others. More viscosity 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 about $85. Would I purchase it again? I would revisit the store where I bought this specific expression for another bottle. 4.25 out of 5 stars. 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 tasted these bourbons over several days, in small quantities. Each feels somewhat clumsy compared to the elegant and complex BRT-02. The 46 is the most robust; the Unique Stave Selection is the sweetest. 1. BRT-02 Limited Release 2. Private Selection Unique Stave Selection 086/246 3. Marker’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 educational. 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 skeptical 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 available for only $10-15 less than the special releases. It represents the best value among them.

An excellent bourbon. Classic notes of caramel apple, chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, vanilla, cigar box, and oak. A touch of salinity is present on the palate, which is oily and viscous. It's rich and full-bodied. The alcohol is noticeable but expected at 55.35% ABV. Very pleasing, and a great value. MM’s Private Selection offers unique combinations of five custom staves. Stave Profile: Baked American Pure 2 (0 staves), Seared French Cuvée (3 staves), Maker’s Mark 46 (1 stave), Roasted French Mendiant (5 staves), and Toasted French Spice (1 stave). Single barrel: bottle 086/246.