Distillery: Maker’s Mark
Proof: 90
Age: No Age Statement
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
Price: $30
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
The standard Maker’s Mark expression is a wheated bourbon made in batches of under 1,000 gallons (19 barrels). Barrels are rotated between the upper and lower levels of the rickhouse to even out the variations in temperature each barrel is exposed to. It’s really a sight that I recommend seeing if you ever have a chance to go to the distillery.
Nose – 94/100
Sweet and rich with notes of caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. The epitome of what a bourbon smells like.
Palate – 92/100
Less flavor than the rich nose would suggest, but still sweet and easy to drink with notes of vanilla and oak. An almost buttery mouthfeel makes this a crazy easy bourbon to sip neat.
Finish – 88/100
Less sweet than the nose and palate. The oak comes through more in the finish with notes of toffee and a bit more spice than anticipated. It’s a satisfying, but unremarkable finish.
Value -92/100
Maker’s Mark is one of my favorite bourbons under $30. It’s sweet, easy to sip, and versatile. It makes a great old fashioned and can be used as a mixer for just about any other drink you can think of.
The price has crept up over the years, which is certainly something to watch, but for now, Maker’s is a must on your shelf if you like sweeter pours. If you’re more of a rye person, Maker’s just isn’t going to scratch that itch for you (and it shouldn’t because it wasn’t designed to).
Verdict – 91.5/100
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.