Paid: $30 for 375 ML
Distilled / Owned by: Maker’s Mark / Beam Suntory
Batch: #1 2015
Region: Kentucky
55.65% ABV
Mashbill: 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley
Aged For: Minimum 4 years
Cask Type: New charred oak, Char #4
Chill Filtered: No
Drank: Neat, in a glencairn
Color: Burgundy Brown
Nose: Strong alcohol gives way to vanilla, cinnamon, and oak. Very similar to the original but light for the proof.
Taste: Vanilla, cherry, oak, chocolate, malt, and leathery tobacco swirl on the palate. Much better mouth feel than the regular. You can clearly identify this as a wheated bourbon.
Finish: Warm, lingers on the tongue and then bites after a time. While not ideal far superior to the regular’s finish. Notes of blackberry and cinnamon.
Overall: I really think the higher proof makes Maker’s taste much better. When proofed down I don’t think Maker’s ages their stuff long enough to have a great flavor profile, wheated mashbills need a lot of age before the flavors begin to really take off.
Score: 86/100
