Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength Bourbon

Maker’s Mark has been a long go-to of mine for sourcing single barrels because their quality is great and so is the whole process of picking out your barrel. I mean it is super thorough and there are so many different possible combinations of flavor profile, but when you finally hit that perfect combination, it’s like a beam of light that shines down. It really is the best.

Their Cask Strength releases are usually a yearly occurrence and production is pretty small, so they usually all get gobbled pretty quickly. I was actually only given six bottles of this new 2023 release, so I apologize in advance for how quickly they will inevitably go.

This is a new blend that checks in at 110.3 Proof and was made with French oaked staves. It’s from batch 23-01. It’s a rich expression with bold notes of caramel, dark chocolate, burnt orange, some dried fruits and a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg that creep in towards the finish. Overall it’s as smooth and pleasant as you could possibly want it – and this bottling remains one of the better bargains in Kentucky Bourbon these days.