Maker's Mark 46 Kentucky Bourbon Whisky, 70cl

Product Information

Palate: This is very drinkable and easy to sip. Oaky flavors blend with caramel and vanilla right away. There is a tiny bit of nuttiness to it, but overall it’s not very complex. The flavors it provides all do a great job and make for a satisfying pour. But its simplicity keeps it from being even greater.

Maker’s Mark though, cought my eye again at the age of 25, its Red Wax seal, its intriguing bottle design. After your bourbon distiller has completed fermentation and distillation, the new make spirit is ready to fill an American oak barrel and take a rest. The maturation process turns ‘white dog’ into whiskey and gives the clear distillate all its color and much of its flavor. Rich and creamy. There are notes of oak, vanilla cinnamon, all perfectly balanced. The Maker's 46 has a big mouthfeel. It is smooth like creamed honey. After the second sip, butter toffee, toast and hints of pepper show up. Water softens the heat a bit, but it is easy enough to drink without water.These two brands were never meant to compete side-by-side. They are positioned in separate price segments to appeal to customers within entirely different demographics. Sure. Maker’s Mark costs a little more. But remember — for the extra money, you do get a 90-proof bourbon with higher alcohol content and the opportunity to try a wheat bourbon.

Nose: There is a particular smell that only French Oak can impart on a whiskey – and the nose on this Maker’s is full of it. Not familiar with what French Oak can smell like? It’s a deeper, more impactful and more dessert-like experience. I’m ashamed that I don’t give them their due but then bottles like this remind me how ashamed I should be. They’re a consistently reliable sip every time and I always forget about them. Rich and sweet with heaps of plump maraschino cherries, oak, vanilla and caramel. There are hints of honey and buttery cinnamon toast. His wife, Marjorie “Margie” Samuels, gave the whisky its name. She designed the now-classic label and came up with the red wax-dipping top that provides the bottle with its distinctive look. 1968 saw the first bottle of Maker’s Mark. Maker’s 46 gets it’s name from the profile number of the seared French oak staves that are added during the extra aging. The profile number corresponds to the charring rate and temperature development in the staves which can bring out different flavors and characteristics in the wood. Those characteristics can in turn change the flavor of the whisky aged in it which becomes very noticeable when tasting Maker’s Mark and Maker’s 46 side by side. The extra aging and the double wood really transforms this whisky into something uniquely tasty.

Finish: Oak is dominate but tobacco pops up. The tannins are quite nice to find in a bourbon that is this inexpensive. Vanilla latte, cinnamon and toasted caramel round out this moderately long finish. The nose is rich with standard Maker’s notes like vanilla, caramel, and oak, but with a faint hint of dark chocolate. Although they are from different pricing segments, there is a lot to be learned by pouring a couple fingers of bourbon and putting them side-by-side for a blind taste comparison: Original recipe vs. wheat bourbon being foremost.

As an adult Maker’s is my go to whiskey, and it is actually the brand that got me into whiskey in the first place. I am normally a Beer man, and on occasion I would drink some expensive Rum. I always felt whiskey was too standard for me. Maker’s Mark is unique because it doesn’t include rye in its mash bill. Instead, it relies on red winter wheat (16%), corn (70%), and malted barley (14%). There is also a heavy concentration of vanilla and toffee. The aroma of Tollhouse chocolate chips probably stems from the French Oak. Each sniff also contains some well-integrated fruit scents like fig and cherry. During one of John’s frequent travels, he managed to secure a bottle of this whiskey. And, to our delight, we’ve learned that Maker’s Mark 46 will soon be available in South Africa, making it easier to replace our beloved bottle when the time comes. Maker’s Mark is one of the most iconic bourbon brands out there. They’re known best for their red wax and quality bourbon that “won’t blow your ears off” (quote from founder, Bill Samuels, Sr).

Maker’s 46 Review

Starting at the nose, the initial wafts coming from the two glasses are pretty similar. Both have cherries, vanilla and oak. After a while, the Maker’s 46 shows a bolder, creamy wooden note on the nose. Looking at the Maker’s Mark, the vanilla and cherries continue on the palate.

With its distinct character and unique production process, this bourbon is a must-try for any bourbon connoisseur.The Maker’s 46 is creamier and more decadent with bolder cherry and toasted oak notes, more spices with added complexity and an oilier mouthfeel. The complexity continues on the finish. A fantastic glass of bourbon.