Certified B Corp Kentucky Bourbon label Maker’s Mark has announced the launch of its Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon, a special global limited-release blend that explores the concept of aging whisky beyond mere numbers.
The new Bourbon combines 11-year-old and 12-year-old bourbon to mark the distillery’s oldest release to date. Maker’s Mark continues to push boundaries and ask “what if?” both in its finished product and its processes. That curiosity has been at the core of the brand’s history, from the use of red winter wheat instead of rye to its groundbreaking wood-stave finishing technique and custom barrel program to its environmental stewardship.
The philosophy behind this unique blend underscores the idea that the aging process is not solely about time but also about the journey to maturity. The Cellar Aged Bourbon seeks to provide a deeper, more intricate flavor without the usual tannic effects found in older American whiskies.
Since 1953, Maker’s Mark has been recognized for aging its whisky to taste, rather than time, with a commitment to creating a product that is consistently smooth, soft, and creamy. This Cellar Aged Bourbon continues this tradition, benefiting from an innovative maturation process that begins in traditional Kentucky warehouses and ends in the distillery’s limestone whisky cellar.
Rob Samuels, the 8th generation whisky maker at Maker’s Mark and the founders’ grandson, shared his thoughts on the new release. “For more than 65 years, aging our whisky for a decade-plus wasn’t something we did,” Samuels said in a statement. “It’s not that we didn’t believe in it; we simply hadn’t found a way to do it that didn’t compromise on our taste vision – until now.”
According to Samuels, Cellar Aged embodies an older whisky that’s distinctly Maker’s Mark. “One rooted in challenging convention, delivering new flavor experiences from the environment that surrounds us, and building on a taste vision that’s been generations in the making.”
The Cellar Aged process commences with barrels aging for approximately six years in traditional bourbon warehouses. After this initial period, the barrels are transferred to the distillery’s proprietary whisky cellar, where they age for an additional five to six years. This phase allows the bourbon to attain a deeper flavor without any bitterness, thanks to the cellar’s consistently cool environment.
This innovative blend, priced at USD $150.00, will be available in the U.S. next month, with launches following in London, Munich, and selected Global Travel Retail accounts in October, and Tokyo and Singapore in early 2024.
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