Makers Mark Cask Strength

Label above is a demo not actual. About a half year ago I posted this was coming. I took some heat as a few insisted on my sources and I was full of shi*. Since the news was about 3 months before anything else which was the TTB filing I waited. I’m happy to say it’s here and it’s good.

Makers has been experimenting with this for almost a year in quiet focus groups and private tastings. Until a short time ago Rob Samuals at Makers Mark had publicly stated that they did not believe in an over aged, over proof whiskey. With this said, Makers has released several “over proofed or over aged” whiskies a few years back in the Gold 101 and Black Wax 95 and others. The famous Black Wax only sent overseas mostly to Japan is a Whiskey Geek Wish list item.

http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2010/01/27/five-makers-mark-bourbons-in-front-of-me-and-the-master-distiller-on-the-phone/

I was told by the former Makers Master Distiller at the time, Dave Pickeral that one day all references to the Black Wax were stricken as if it never existed and it was discontinued. I’ve had it as well as others. Jack Rose in DC still had some last visit. It was a bit hotter at 95 and thought to be a bit older. Geeks put this at their favorite Makers bottling.

If you believe all the Stitzel Weller lineage it is said that this is the SW recipe that Pappy gave Bill Samuals Sr. It is also said that the Makers Stills are the same type SW had and the SW yeast is being used. What had always been missing was the ABV to 107 and some extra age. Black Wax almost did that. As for this new Cask Strength it’s 113 Proof (variable) and age is thought to be anywhere between 4-6 years, uncut/unfiltered. At the end of Makers Mark tours visitors are offered a tasting of Makers that is White, Over Aged, Regular Bottled and 46. It’s no surprise that the great Whiskey palates there with me told Bill Samuals Jr liked it (even after he told us we should be tasting to much wood and bad tasting whiskey with the over aged product). It wasn’t bad and it was clearly the best of the bunch and we told him so. It’s scary to think what an 8-12 year Makers would do to the market at Cask Strength. Beam/Suntory Marketing folks could easily get $100 a bottle for it and geeks would be happy to pay that. After the 84 proof fiasco they should try it since they are obviously in an “Expermentin mood”. I have no idea of selectivity that went into these batches but I’d be surprised if some or much extra selection went into them. I am also drinking a pre-release bottle meant for non-mortals so who knows if this batch is the standard to be expected in the gift shop variety. Thanks to my buddy that got this to me.

Cask Strength is currently only TTB approved in a .375 size. No official word on its availability outside the Distillery gift shop starting on 9/1/14. I’ve been told that Bartenders around the world are supposedly still being tasted/tested on it for a potential limited national rollout. Stay tuned.

If you have a Whiskey Mule in KY or the opportunity to get a bottle or two of this it will quickly become a cult favorite and I’d get some. Expect 3x mark up on facebook and 3rd party reselling.

Tasting notes scores out of 5

Nose-Tropical Fruit, Maple, a little spice. Not super complex, still a tad young 3.5

Taste-Tad Medicinal, Cinnamon, Maple, Fruity, not much burn 3.5

Finish- Yum, so hard to get a great finish and this one is long with my favorite Juicy Fruit, Cinnamon, Maple, light spice. A good 15 seconds. No bitterness. Very Nice. 4.25

Reminds me of a 6 year SW Old Fitz.

Value don’t know yet but this is a special item so I think most would be acceptable of higher cost even with a .375 size. Good value up to $70 considering its current uniqueness. Comparing it to the crappy craft stuff being sold in the same size/$$ (to who knows), but they are buying it I don’t have a problem with paying more. As for the Makers value, no extra points but no deductions either.

I’m going to put this at a 4.0 score which is a super good score for me as I’m a mean bastard when it comes to this sort of thing and if it was older I could see this easily giving WLW and Pappy a major run for its money perhaps leaving them in the dust.