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Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

What makes Maker's Mark's wheat-forward mash bill so distinctive? Discover why this classic bourbon remains a market staple and a perfect pick for beginners.

OVERALL RATING

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$21
  • Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash and a graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme. With over half a decade of industry experience, she is passionate about writing stories that highlight innovation, diversity, and sustainability across the global whisky landscape.
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Tasting Notes

About:

First created by Bill and Margie Samuels in 1953, this is the classic expression from Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, KY. The bourbon is distilled from a mash bill of 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, and 14% malted barley.

Aged “to taste, not time,” it is thought that the standard expression spends about 6 years in the cask and is bottled at 45% ABV.

Maker’s Mark is well-known for its use of wheat, in place of rye, as the flavouring grain. The wheat adds a softer, rounder mouthfeel to the whisky compared to the relative sharpness and spice of rye.
Appearance:
Dark Amber
Nose:
The classic bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla are accompanied by buttered corn, baked apples, oak, and wheat. You can tell straight away that this is a wheat whiskey rather than a rye.
Palate:
Buttery caramel, more baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon, underlying citrusy notes of orange and lemon zest, and ripe, stewed cherries. It is soft with a medium body and fizzes a little on the tongue.
Finish:
Medium in length with plenty of oak spice, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Comments:
A fantastically easy-drinking bourbon. It is easy to see why Maker’s Mark Classic retains its incredible staying power in the market. It is soft, sweet, fruity, and a great example of what wheat can do in a mash bill. For an experienced drinker, it won’t knock your socks off. But it is a reliable bottle to have on your home bar. A great bourbon for beginners and the workhorse of the Maker’s Mark portfolio.

I also love using Maker’s Mark Classic in cocktails – it has just enough ABV and presence to hold its own, and works wonderfully in serves such as a Manhattan or a Bourbon Mule.

As an added bonus, Maker’s Mark Classic is super affordable. If you like good value wheated bourbons, you cannot really go wrong.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash with over half a decade of industry experience. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the global whisky landscape, spanning everything from heritage and production to complex market analysis. A graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme, which champions women in whisky, Beth is a dedicated advocate for diversity and sustainability, focused on highlighting the innovation and storytelling that define the modern whisky industry.

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