One of the more recognizable bottles of bourbon on my shelf is the Maker’s Mark bourbon. With the bright red wax closure, you can spot this bottle at a distance. Today, I want to compare the Maker’s Mark vs Maker’s 46 bourbon whiskey to see how they differ.
Sadly, the variety of Maker’s Mark bourbon available in South Africa is (currently) limited to these two releases only. So what is the difference between these two bottles?
The mash bill for these two releases is similar. They are aged in the same barrels in the same warehouse. However, the Maker’s 46 is aged longer when compared to the standard Maker’s Mark bourbon. The Maker’s 46 also have seared French oak staves added to the barrels.
There is a slight difference as well in the ABV and the price. Let’s see if the extra wood and time changes the liquid enough to pick it up on my blind tasting.
Beam Suntory distils Maker’s Mark bourbon in Loretto, Kentucky. Production of Maker’s Mark started in 1954 after T. William “Bill” Samuels Sr. purchased the distillery known as Burks’ Distillery.
His wife, Marjorie “Margie” Samuels, gave the whisky its name. She designed the now-classic label and came up with the red wax-dipping top that provides the bottle with its distinctive look. 1968 saw the first bottle of Maker’s Mark.
Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve
Maker’s Mark Bourbon
It is the bourbon that made me fall in love with bourbon; a regular whiskey in my cocktails and my glass. First released in 1958, Maker’s Mark has no age statement.
It is bottled when the tasters agree that it is ready, roughly around 6 yo. The Maker’s Mark mash bill does not include rye. Instead of rye, Maker’s Mark uses red winter wheat (16%), along with corn (70%) and malted barley (14%).
It is an excellent introduction to bourbon for someone who wants to explore it American bourbon more broadly.
Maker’s 46 Bourbon
According to Maker’s Mark, Maker’s 46 bourbon is the first new expression to the range since the 50s. It was released in 2010. The goal was to take the standard release and ad something spicier.
Maker’s 46 starts as standard Maker’s Mark bourbon. Then, heavily seared French oak staves are placed in just-emptied traditional Maker’s Mark barrels, refilled and returned to the warehouses to finish ageing. The number reflects the experiment’s number that created what the team was looking for; experiment No. 46 was just perfect.
Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Side by Side: Maker’s Mark vs Maker’s 46 Bourbon
| Maker's Mark | Maker's 46 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Bourbon whiskey | Bourbon whiskey |
| Mashbill | Red winter wheat (16%), corn (70%), malted barley (14%) | Red winter wheat (16%), corn (70%), malted barley (14%) |
| ABV | 45% | 47% |
| Colour | Light golden copper | Dark polished copper |
| Nose | Cherries, brandied fruit, toasted wood and vanilla spice. Adding a few drops of water brings out more spice and woody notes. | Rich and sweet with heaps of plump maraschino cherries, oak, vanilla and caramel. There are hints of honey and buttery cinnamon toast. |
| Palate | Full of vanilla, followed by sweet cherries and fresh red fruit. Cinnamon and toasted oak. A few drops of water brings butterscotch and warming nutmeg. Delicious and very easy drinking. | Rich and creamy. There are notes of oak, vanilla cinnamon, all perfectly balanced. The Maker's 46 has a big mouthfeel. It is smooth like creamed honey. After the second sip, butter toffee, toast and hints of pepper show up. Water softens the heat a bit, but it is easy enough to drink without water. |
| Finish | Long with hints of sweetness, vanilla and caramel. | Long and lingering and ends in notes of caramel, pepper and vanilla. |
| My Rating | Excellent | Excellent |
| Price | $33 | $43 |
Starting at the nose, the initial wafts coming from the two glasses are pretty similar. Both have cherries, vanilla and oak. After a while, the Maker’s 46 shows a bolder, creamy wooden note on the nose. Looking at the Maker’s Mark, the vanilla and cherries continue on the palate.
Easy drinking with cinnamon and fruity sweetness; it is lovely. However, when you put the Maker’s 46 next to it, you can immediately taste what the extra time in the wood did to the whiskey.
The Maker’s 46 is creamier and more decadent with bolder cherry and toasted oak notes, more spices with added complexity and an oilier mouthfeel. The complexity continues on the finish. A fantastic glass of bourbon.
Both of these bourbons are wonderful to have in the cupboard. However, the extra time and effort on the Maker’s 46 bourbon show its superiority: a lovely dram and worth the extra few bucks.
Which one is your favourite?
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I met Bill samuels Jr when I visited the Makers distillery about 5 years ago. He was very unassuming and asked how were enjoying our visit. He then went on to tell us 46 was his project, and they “let him hang around”. It’s one of my favorites and a must to have.
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How do I find out the year my bottle of maker 46 was bottled
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Look on the bottle.
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