Maker’s Mark Bourbon Bottle Prices, Review & Guide
Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Maker’s Mark is a famous bourbon whisky known for its incredible smoothness and special packaging. For decades, the distillery offered nothing besides their standard flagship bourbon, but in 2010, they started to release different expressions.
Interested with Maker’s Mark bourbon? We’ve got you covered.
All About Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight bourbon whisky is a handmade bourbon whisky with a unique profile character that is not made by machine.
Different from other distilled Kentucky bourbon whisky, Maker’s Mark is known for its sweetness, thanks to its red winter wheat grain. Reaching the qualification of a true bourbon [1], Bill Samuels Sr replaced the rye with wheat for a bourbon that will not blow your ears off.
If you enter a liquor store, it would be hard not to notice its hand-dipped red wax packaging- a true trademark of Maker’s Mark. It’s a Kentucky bourbon worth the price too! Depending on the size and variant, you can drop by a liquor shop and expect to pay around $22 -$500.
Some Interesting Facts
History
Bill Samuels Sr is a sixth-generation distiller, and for him to create a smooth and great tasting bourbon, he burned the 170-year-old family recipe and redefined what it should taste. He gathered the greatest bourbon distillers to discuss how to make a lighter bourbon whisky.
His family developed its new recipe by baking different loaves of bread with different grain mixtures. Using the bread, they found that wheat can give a smooth and sweet flavor to the bourbon whisky and settle with it.
How It’s Made
Maker’s Mark bourbon whisky uses an heirloom yeast to initiate the fermentation process before undergoing a double distillation process in copper stills.
The distillation process removes the impurities of the spirit, making it a more refined whisky.
It is then aged in a perfect degree of char oak barrels for pleasant caramel and vanilla notes. The barrels are rotated by hand to ensure exposure to a different temperature which other distilleries no longer practice. So how long is Maker’s Mark aged?
What sets Maker’s Mark apart from other distilleries is that the bourbon tells it when it’s ready; they age to taste and not just settle on setting the clock.
Did you know? Maker’s Mark uses a 150-year-old yeast strain, older than Maker’s itself!
Where It’s Made
The small batches of Maker’s Mark are on-site produced in the Maker’s Mark Distillery, one of Kentucky’s National Historic Landmarks at Star Hill Farm.
Maker’s Mark Distillery is a preserved time capsule where you can witness how they make Kentucky bourbon just like 1953, so try their Kentucky bourbon tour sometime!
Key Ingredients
Maker’s Mark uses a unique mash bill that contains 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, and 14% malted barley. Bill Samuels Sr replaced rye with wheat – the star mash bill and flavoring grain that gives unwanted bite.
The new bourbon recipe stands out from the crowd because it is approachable and smooth with an easy finish. The wheated bourbon has lots of sweetness, nuttiness, and spice that you cannot find in other bourbons.
How to Drink It
There is no limit on consuming Maker’s Mark bourbon whisky because it is smooth and sweet. It is a delight to consume neat or sip slowly, but a splash of water or ice can help for maximum aroma and flavor.
In addition, it is a versatile distilled spirit because the rich and smooth flavor of the bourbon is a great foundation for bourbon-based cocktails.
You can try the brand with soda, ginger ale, beer, or wine too. There are different delicious and refreshing cocktails with Maker’s Mark.
Check out what to mix with Maker’s Mark here.
Common Maker’s Mark Bourbon Prices
| Bottle Type | Size | Alcohol By Volume | Average Price (in USD) |
| Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky | 750 ml | 45% | $22.99 – $33.99 |
| 1 L | $31.99 – $44.99 | ||
| 1.75 L | $41.99 – $56.99 | ||
| Maker’s Mark 46 | 750 ml | 47% | $32.99 – $43.99 |
| Maker’s Mark Gold Label VIP | 750 ml | 45% | $350-$500 |
| Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | 750 ml | 55.05% | $39.99- $66.14 |
| Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series | 750 ml | 54.1% | $59.99 – $79.99 |
| Maker’s Mark 101 | 750 ml | 50.5% | $34.99-$47.99 |
| Maker’s Mark Private Select | 750 ml | 57.5% | $69.99 – $89.99 |
Maker’s Mark Product Line
Private Selection
Maker’s Mark Private Selection is a wood finishing series created to explore unique, fresh, and new signature whisky.
Private Selection begins with a fully matured Maker’s Mark at cask strength, then added with ten custom wood staves on each barrel.
The quantities and types of wooden staves will depend on the purchasing retailer.
The special barrel program is then aged in a limestone cellar for unique flavors.
Maker’s Mark Private Selection comes from a carefully selected five flavor profiles from finished wooden staves.
There can be 1,001 possible profile combinations, and every batch of Private Selection will have a customize palate profile and finish.
Cask Strength
The Maker’s Mark Cask Strength forgoes a traditional process of water dilution where it contains its tones own the strong flavor profile of the bourbon whisky while maintaining its ABV.
The Maker’s Mark Cask Strength contains 108-114 proof, and each batch has its unique flavor characteristics.
Maker’s 46
Maker’s 46 is the vision of the heir of Maker’s Mark-Bill Samuels Jr, and his signature bourbon is first-of-its-kind. It was created as a retirement loom for Bill Jr before leaving his father’s company that he had been running since 1975.
Maker’s 46 uses ten seared French oak staves on its maturity, resulting in an easy-to-sip Kentucky bourbon.
When you leave charred French oak staves in the finished Maker’s Mark barrel and then age for a while, it will develop a whole new flavor profile with a long finish.
Each barrel develops notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel flavors; sip it slowly, and you can expect flavors exploding in your mouth. Check out this comparison between Maker’s Mark and Maker’s 46.
Compared to Other Bourbons
Jack Daniel
Maker’s Mark is a Kentucky bourbon whisky, while Jack Daniels is a Tennessee whiskey. Both spirits are known for their sweetness, but Maker’s Mark’s sweet flavor came from red winter wheat, while Jack Daniel’s owes it to the Lincoln county process (maple charcoal filtration process).
In addition, the original Maker’s Mark has a higher alcohol content than Jack Daniel’s, but that does not stop Maker’s Mark from being drunk neat.
You can score a bottle of Jack Daniel’s for roughly $25 per bottle, closely priced with Maker’s Mark.
Read:
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace is sweet but bolder compared to Maker’s Mark. Maker’s Mark is less spicy and has a distinct fruitiness that you cannot find on Buffalo Trace. Buffalo Trace can be an expensive alternative to Maker’s because a bottle of Buffalo is around $35.
While both spirits contain the same ABV, the finish is different because Buffalo Trace is spicier and medium length. On the contrary, the original Maker’s Mark has a long and warming finish; every bourbon lover would surely love to try it!
Read: Buffalo Trace vs Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey
Bernheim Original Wheat whiskey is a well-recognized whiskey in America, and it is around the same price as Maker’s Mark. It is a little sweeter than Maker’s Mark because it contains 20% wheat in its ingredients, while Maker’s Mark contains 16% wheat. A 750ml bottle is around $2.
Popular Maker’s Mark Cocktails
Old-Fashioned
Ingredients:
- 45ml Maker’s Mark whisky
- Cherry and orange peel
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 tsp sugar
Directions:
In an old-fashioned glass, muddle sugar with water, then fill ¾ of the glass with ice. Pour the Maker’s Mark and bitters, and stir well. Top it off with cherry and orange peel before serving.
Serving: 1
Maker’s Sour
Ingredients:
- 60ml Maker’s Mark whisky
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 30ml lemon juice
- Cherry and lemon peel
Directions:
Add the liquid ingredients and shake well in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Get a chilled rock glass and strain the mixture over ice. Garnish the cocktail with lemon peel and cherry.
Serving: 1
FAQs
What does Maker’s Mark taste like?
Maker’s Mark tastes like a slightly sweet whiskey with a kick of booze and citrus. It is great to consume neat but adding a splash of water opens up the flavors and aromas of the spirit. It is less fiery than other whiskies because of its wheat content.
Is Maker’s Whisky good?
Yes, Maker’s Whiskey is good. It is a unique, noteworthy, and solid option if you want something easy to drink. It has a great flavor combination that is not too intense, especially for novice drinkers.
Why is whiskey spelled differently on Maker’s Mark?
Maker’s Mark spells whisky differently and omits the “e” because the Samuels family pays homage to their Scottish-Irish heritage. Bill Samuels Sr has Scottish roots, so to honor their family genealogy, the whiskey maker uses whisky without “e” on their company brand.
Final Thoughts
Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon whisky, and its wheat content imparts a rich, soft, and sweet palate, making the brand popular in America and around the world. Maker’s Mark bottles are always noticeable because of the vintage hand-dipped red wax.
Also, Maker’s Mark takes pride in creating handmade bourbons. It has a flavor profile that any machinery cannot replicate. The prices vary on each expression, but it is worth every bottle.
Reference:
- https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/5-rules-that-make-it-bourbon.html
