Maker’s Mark 101
- Distiller: Maker’s Mark
- Spirit: Bourbon
- Aged: Around Six Years
- Proof: 101
- Purchase Price: $49.99
From the Distiller: “This one changed the way we think of bourbon, all because one man changed the way he thought about making it. Bill Samuels, Sr., simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker’s Mark® is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon that’s easy to drink. To ensure consistency, we rotate every barrel by hand and age our bourbon to taste, not time. Each and every bottle of Maker’s® is still hand-dipped in our signature red wax at our distillery in Loretto, Ky., just like Bill, Sr., would have wanted.
Maker’s Mark 101 is our signature Maker’s Mark family recipe, brought to you at a higher proof. Now available in limited quantities at our distillery.”
About The Distillery: “ We’re still doing things just like we did them in 1953. From the old letterpress, to the way we hand-rotate every barrel and hand-dip every bottle.
There’s an old joke at the distillery that goes, ‘If we could make it any faster, we wouldn’t.’ Because at Maker’s Mark, it’s one bottle at a time. Every time. That’s as true today as it was when our founders filled our first bottle. And since then, it’s been a widely held belief around here that character isn’t made by machine.”
Review & Score
Nose: Sweet wheat and vanilla are heavy on the nose with lighter scents of leather and caramel as it tapers off.
Palate: Vanilla and caramel sweetness with subtle floral hints give way to dried fig and charred wheat.
Body: Not as hot as you’d anticipate for something over 100 proof, yet full of flavor.
Finish: Barrel char and torched sugar finish up the pour in equal parts sweet and savory.
Conclusion: This by far has to be one of my favorite Maker’s Mark releases. While the 101 is simply a higher-proof offering of their massively popular standard bourbon, the intensity of the flavors offer up a very different palate. The sweetness pokes through and shines more brilliantly as the sour mash tastes fall more by the wayside. In our opinion, it’s a great pour for the $50 or so it costs. The only problem, you have to visit the distillery to snag a bottle.
User Review
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Greg Sinadinos started his spirits journey writing a whiskey periodical for Fine Tobacco NYC Magazine. He began answering review requests under a social media page he named “Whiskey Culture,” which quickly merged with Greg’s passion for connecting with others and his interest in history.
Today, Greg travels the country not just looking for great whiskey, but also exploring the history and individuals that the whiskey community is founded upon. He has authored “Whiskey History From Around The World” and is the host of “The Rickhouse” web series.
