#makers 46

Watched the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing. It’s unreal we have to put Dr Ford through that shit. Even the prosecutor hired by the GOP recognized how insane the whole process is.

Bourbon // Small Batch // 47% // 94 Proof // Maker’s Mark (Beam Suntory), Loretto, KY

Maker’s 46 was released in 2010 and represented the first new Maker’s Mark recipe since it first hit the shelves in 1958.  Let’s begin with the name…46, a favourite number of yours truly for other reasons (guess correctly and I’ll buy you a beer), stands for the number of attempted wood recipes tested before those fine folks in Loretto were fully satisfied with their creation.

Allegedly made in response to the surge in popularity of rye whiskey, 46 was created with the intention of a longer finish and a more pronounced wood note on the nose.  This is partly achieved by the addition of French Oak staves to the barrel for the final 9-11 weeks of winter maturation.  These staves are seasoned and aged for 18 months before use.  The liquid that heads in to the barrel is the same 70% corn, 16% wheat and 14% malted barley as the eponymous Maker’s Mark, with the only difference being the end result courtesy of being cut to 2%/4 Proof higher, and the aforementioned French Oak.

On the nose we have a sweet and rich line of toffee with a hint of seared oak cutting through a scent of toasty spices in retro-taste.  As soon as it hits the palette, it warms without burning and releases a creamy, rich oak flavour with a pocketful of vanilla up front, caramel at the back, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves in the middle.  

A combination of sweetness and spiced (mulled, almost) fruits, reduces on the tongue slowly, leaving a pleasant yet deeply sweet finish lingering and big gust of wood - the French Oak maturation really does it’s job well in carrying the bourbon through.  The impression gained is that 46 wasn’t made to take away from standard Maker’s Mark, but to open up a new avenue of exploration for the distillery in the way finishing bourbon can have such a major effect on the overall product.  Whatever may be next??

I was in the privileged position of sitting through a seminar and tasting of Maker’s 46 in Loretto in the summer of 2013, and the overwhelming feeling after was the sheer pride of all involved in the process of Maker’s 46 at their achievement - A sense of pride richly deserved, and washed down with a large glass, I’m sure. 

Title: Whisk-tea

Ingredients: Makers 46, Black Tea

Description: Now here's a weird one, courtesy of my roommate. Make hot black tea, and mix whiskey into it. It's bitter and not very flavorful, the smell is fantastic but it doesn't taste like it smells. It's not that great lol