Maker's Mark
Handmade Bourbon, Dipped in Red
Bill Samuels Sr. came from a long line of Kentucky distillers but wanted to break from tradition. He burned the family's 170-year-old recipe (literally, in a fire) and spent years developing a new one. The key innovation: substituting red winter wheat for rye grain, creating a gentler flavour profile.
His wife, Margie Samuels, designed the bottle, the label, and the hand-dipped wax seal. She named it 'Maker's Mark' after her pewter collection — where a maker's mark signified handcraftsmanship. The branding was as carefully considered as the bourbon itself.
The Story
Founded 1953
In 2014, Maker's Mark briefly reduced the ABV from 45% to 42% to stretch limited supply. The backlash was immediate and fierce — loyal customers flooded the company with complaints. Within a week, the decision was reversed. It was a testament to how deeply people care about this bourbon.
The Maker's Mark Style
The wheat-forward mash bill (70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley) is Maker's Mark signature move. Where rye adds spice and bite, wheat adds softness and sweetness. The result is a bourbon that drinks much smoother than its 45% ABV suggests.
Maker's Mark rotates its barrels by hand during ageing — moving them from hotter upper floors to cooler lower floors to ensure even maturation. It's labour-intensive and expensive, but it means every barrel reaches a similar quality. Consistency is the quiet obsession here.
Signature Notes
Maker's Mark 46
The standard Maker's is finished with seared French oak staves inserted into the barrel, adding layers of baking spice, caramel, and vanilla complexity. It's what happens when you take a great bourbon and give it just a bit more depth.
Whiskies from Maker's Mark
5 expressions in our collection · Average rating: 4.2
Visiting Maker's Mark
The Star Hill Farm distillery in Loretto is a National Historic Landmark. The rolling Kentucky countryside and restored 19th-century buildings make it one of the most scenic distillery visits in America.
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