Brian Haara
Bourbon. Law. Author.
Sipp’n Corn Bourbon Review – Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
After toying with reducing the proof of its standard bottling a couple of years ago, Maker’s Mark instead followed the barrel proof trend and last August released its iconic Bourbon at cask strength, and the world is a better place for it.
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Bourbon:
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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Straight
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Bourbon Whisky
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Distillery:
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Maker’s Mark, Loretto, Kentucky
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Age:
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NAS
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Proof:
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Batch 14-02 – 113.3 proof
Batch 15-01 – 111.2 proof
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Cost:
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$34.99 for one 375 mL bottle, $37.99 for the other
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(750 mL now available for around $50.00)
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Tasting Notes
Color:
Dark amber.
Nose:
Great nose with scents of vanilla, light fruit, apricot, plum, fresh grass and a bit of leather. It’s definitely identifiable as a Maker’s nose, but it’s still different.
Taste:
Creamy vanilla, raisins, honey, and oak, for an overall sweet taste as anticipated. Some of the expected caramel doesn’t come out until ice is added, but I preferred it neat nevertheless.
Finish:
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength has a great, long, warming finish.
Bottom Line
If you’re a fan of Maker’s Mark, you’ll love it at barrel strength. It has a very similar flavor profile (a little less caramel though), but it’s amped up. With so many barrel strength options that torch the taste buds, the proof range for Maker’s Mark (108 – 114) is just about perfect, and it’s drinkable neat for the best experience of the flavors. People who have strayed from Maker’s Mark due to the proliferation of new brands should come back for this.
Score on The Sipp’n Corn Scale: 4.0
The Sipp’n Corn Scale:
1 – Wouldn’t even accept a free drink of it.
2 – Would gladly drink it if someone else was buying.
3 – Glad to include this in my bar.
4 – Excellent bourbon. Worth the price and I’m sure to always have it in my bar.
5 – Wow. I’ll search high and low to get another bottle of this.
Brian Haara 
Agreed on all of this. It's supplanted W12 as my daily mixer (makes a mean old fashioned).
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Thanks, and excellent point. Even though enthusiasts have been clamoring for a barrel strength Maker's Mark, I've heard that bartenders wanting it for cocktails also prompted the decision.
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Haven't mixed it, but one small ice cube broke it open and the rest was history. Went back to the place I bought it to buy one more for back up, and it was sold out with no firm refill date. I ended up driving to two more stores and bought their last three bottles. I have a feeling this bourbon will be in short supply once the word gets out. I won't run out soon.
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I haven't dared mix it either; just neat or ice for me, please. Glad you found some backups!
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Yep, bought the only 2 bottles allotted to my local store… Drinking neat with one cube… Excellent!
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Nice find! Next be on the lookout for Cask Strength Maker's 46, which just got label approval. Enjoy.
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