Maker’s Mark has announced the 2026 release of its Cellar Aged bourbon, combining 11-, 12- and 14-year-old whiskeys. The annual limited release will reach select US retailers on September 1 at a suggested retail price of $175.
Now in its fourth year, the release marks one of the most mature blends produced by the Kentucky distillery to date.
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The bourbon is bottled at cask strength, at 112.1 proof (56.05% ABV). It brings together 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old and 18% 14-year-old bourbons.
The whiskey is aged in the brand’s traditional warehouses before spending additional time maturing in a limestone cellar built into the shelf surrounding Star Hill Farm.
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“The limestone shelf that surrounds Star Hill Farm has shaped our bourbon from the very beginning, thanks to the innovative spirit of my grandparents, Margie and Bill Samuels Sr., who chose this land in 1953 for its exceptional water source and natural watershed,” said Rob Samuels, Maker’s Mark managing director and eighth-generation whisky maker.
Samuels added that the decision to build a LEED-certified cellar into the same limestone shelf was one “some considered an unreasonable decision.”
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READ THE STORY“This year’s Cellar Aged release is a testament to how our environment continues to shape the whisky’s final profile,” he said.
Dr Blake Layfield, master distiller for Maker’s Mark, described the release as a pursuit of “flavor through patience, precision and a deep understanding of how bourbon evolves over time.”
“After aging in our traditional warehouses, the bourbon spends additional time in our limestone cellar, where cooler maturation allows the fruit to shine while keeping the oak in balance,” Layfield said.
According to the official notes from the brand, the bourbon opens with aromas of dark cherry, clove, vanilla bean and soft orchard fruit. On the palate, notes of honey, brown sugar and ripe plum precede a finish accented by almond, nutmeg and crisp green apple.
Following its US launch, the bourbon will roll out in the UK, Germany, Korea, Japan, Australia and Global Travel Retail later this year and into 2027.
Maker’s Mark, part of the Suntory Global Spirits portfolio, will host a launch event ahead of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival on September 10 for ticketed guests aged 21 and over.
From September 14, visitors can book an exclusive distillery tour offering behind-the-scenes access to the Cellar Aged process.
