Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 SE4 x PR5

During the peak of the pandemic in California, there was a rush for alcohol. I suppose if you're confined to your home, it's better to be confined and intoxicated, right? Consequently, obtaining the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 release was nearly impossible. Not only does shipping from Kentucky to California take an eternity, but the moment limited bottles like this appear in stores, they vanish. I had almost lost hope of ever tasting SE4 PR5. Then, the other day, while searching online for BRT 01 and BRT 02, I came across a shop advertising 5 bottles of SE4 PR5 available. This was likely due to the exorbitant price they were asking. And even though I dislike paying nearly triple the suggested retail price for a bottle, I saw my sole opportunity to acquire this elusive gem and seized it. Was the 2-year wait justified? The nose is rich and robust. Sweet and thick, reminiscent of caramel and molasses. A touch of toasted oats gives some substance to the aroma. The taste strikes a balance between sweet and spicy. It possesses far more complexity than Maker's Mark core offerings, that's for sure. It begins innocently enough with sweet caramel and a hint of milk chocolate. As you reach the mid-palate, your tongue encounters a fiery spice that emerges from the middle of the tongue outwards. It's somewhat herbaceous and only faintly reminiscent of rye. As that spice subsides, you detect a background of roasted peanuts, adding a slight savory quality to the flavor. The aspect of this bourbon I find lacking is the finish. Once the bourbon is swallowed and that nutty element fades, a touch of sourness appears on the back of the palate, reminding me a bit of the aftertaste of warm cola. It's unusual... I haven't experienced this kind of finish with any other Maker's Mark whiskey. However, it somehow fits with the overall complexity of this selection.

Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 SE4 x PR5. Honestly, Maker's Mark needs to develop more captivating names. There must be a middle ground between that and what Highland Park uses. Regardless, I enjoyed the 2019 RC6 and am hoping this delivers a comparable or superior experience. Nose: Cherry and baked apple (like apple pie.) Caramel, nougat, and brown sugar. Cinnamon Teddy Grahams. Black tea leaves. Orange peel and ginger. Vanilla and toffee. Abundant cinnamon, black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Significant oak presence. A very powerful start with this aroma. Palate: Apple, vanilla, and chewy caramel. Toffee and pecan--the latter is a new flavor for Maker's, or perhaps one I've overlooked. Cola--specifically, Cherry Vanilla Coke. A lot of brown sugar. Cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg offer a nice warmth on the mid-palate. And, of course, oak. Very pleasing. Finish: Vanilla, caramel, and roasted nut. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and oak spices contribute to a long finish. Fantastic. This earns a 4.25 rating, boosted to 4.75 when considering value for money. Booker's has nearly doubled in price, as has ECBP. This cost me a mere $55, and the experience was nothing short of superb. In the context of the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series, this is a success. It surpasses the 2019 iteration, which I already liked. At 55.4% ABV, this is a potent spirit. Considering the cost of similarly-proofed bourbons, they are typically considerably more expensive. My review is delayed, but if you can still find this, it's an absolute must-buy. Remarkable liquid from Maker's Mark--and now I feel compelled to purchase the 2021 edition.

Tried it neat after letting it breathe for 3 months. I wasn't a fan of the initial pour. Decided to give it another go, especially since I suspected a certain food might have been affecting my senses when tasting whiskey previously. So, starting fresh and giving it a fair chance. The aroma is dominated by oak, with a hint of pine, reminiscent of a walk in the woods on a warm, dry afternoon. The oak blends with sweetness, forming notes of dark chocolate. Freshly baked wheat bread and plenty of baking spices, like cinnamon and a touch of clove, are present. There's a peculiar density of powdered sugar that tickles the nose. As I linger with it, a deep vanilla note emerges, gradually overshadowing the oak. Frankly, the aroma feels rather unremarkable. I recently sampled a Maker's Community Blend that was stunning aromatically, unlike this offering which lacks any distinct character. The texture is adequate, neither rich nor watery, with a slightly oily coating sensation. Sweet cinnamon sugar and vanilla are perceived on the palate. As the mid-palate progresses, the vanilla sweetness recedes, replaced by dry, bitter oak that is quite astringent. If I push past the harsh oak, a pleasant chocolate note can be detected, but the effort isn't justified. A rich vanilla builds in the throat, leaving a lasting impression. The developing finish is actually quite decent, though again, not worth the struggle to reach it. I gave it a serious try, but it's safe to say this will be my least preferred Maker's release. It falls short of RC6, 46 Cask, and any Private Select I've encountered. I'm genuinely puzzled by the intention behind this particular release.

Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass. The container has been open for approximately five weeks. It required about fifteen minutes to open up after pouring, as it initially offered mostly ethanol. Nose - It's a decent aroma, but understated. The most striking notes are a sweet vanilla, akin to frosting, and fresh apple peel. There are some underlying caramel notes, though not as pronounced as the stave profile would indicate. It rounds out with a touch of cinnamon, toasted oat, and a slight oak presence. Palate - The palate is distinct, with vanilla, but more caramel than the aroma suggested. The apple is really noticeable, followed by the spice. The mid to back palate is a spice explosion, with lots of pepper, cinnamon, and the apple remains. A little bit of oak is present. Finish - Medium in length, pleasant, and not drying. The apple continues to be the highlight, with hints of caramel, vanilla, oak, and leather. The specific expression didn't astound me but it's good, certainly better than average. It has good flavor, but you may need to seek it out. The caramel and vanilla fluctuate a bit; the apple was always consistent. If you enjoy a spicy bourbon, this is a solid choice; it's not a harsh burn, but a genuine spicy flavor. This would be excellent on a cool autumn evening. Definitely recommended.

Nose: Cinnamon, yeast, black cherry, vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, cocoa, apple, mint, dry oak, blueberry bread, banana, marshmallow, and moderate ethanol sting. Taste: Spiced apple pie, cinnamon, chocolate malt, vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, cranberry, clove, tannic oak, graham cracker, cherry, ginger, black pepper, banana, with a moderate to high alcohol bite. The finish is medium in length, featuring tannic oak, baking spice, and cocoa flavors. Compared to the 2019 RC6, this expression is less aromatic and significantly more bitter, spicy, and tannic. The wood notes are much more prominent here. The additional French oak stave has a major effect, though not a particularly pleasant one. It presents more of a toasted oak character than the RC6. Overall, there's a lot of overlap in the flavors, and both are unmistakably Maker's products, but I rank this one slightly above average, and the RC6 one step higher.

NOSE: Fresh pastries, oak, cornbread, butterscotch, baking spices, vanilla frosting, hints of fruit, French toast, toasted marshmallows, bubblegum, and char. The Maker's Mark 2020 Wood Finishing Series aroma is complex and delightful, with an overall "bakery" character that blends seamlessly with the oak and spice in a truly remarkable way. PALATE: Oak, red licorice, fresh pastries, cornbread, butterscotch, baking spices, vanilla frosting, hints of fruit, French toast, coconut, caramel, and a bitter char. The palate is slightly subdued compared to the aroma and presents more of a dessert/dark sweet profile, but is again supported by a solid layer of oak. FINISH: Medium-Long -> Oak, cocoa, leather, char, caramel, and marshmallow. A wonderful fade that transitions smoothly from earthy to sweet in a velvety manner.