Distillery: Maker’s Mark
Proof: 110.3
Age: No Age Statement (~6 Years)
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
Price: ~$60
Company
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).
Production
Maker’s 46 is the standard Maker’s Mark expression with a unique twist—it’s aged for 9 additional weeks with heavily seared French Oak staves. The result, as their site puts it, is a bolder and more complex version of the Maker’s Mark flavor profile without the bitterness typical of longer-aged whiskies.
Cask Strength is simply the barrel proof version of Maker’s 46.
Nose – 93/100
The nose is really hot (to be expected with the proof) with heavy oak and hints of dark chocolate.
Palate – 91/100
The palate is hot and wood-heavy with faint notes of caramel and dark chocolate.
Finish – 89/100
The finish is long and hot with hints of pepper and leather.
Value – 88/100
Being $20 higher than standard Maker’s 46, the cask strength version is a little pricy for what you get. Sure, the proof is higher, but there’s no other difference between the two. I actually liked the standard Maker’s 46 slightly more because I felt like the cask strength overpowered the flavor.
Verdict – 90.25/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.