MAKER´S MARK – handgemachter Bourbon Whisky

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Maker's Mark | Whisky Since I've been writing a lot about salt, tonic water, Italian restaurants, and the like lately, I'd like to dedicate myself to a different topic today: whisky. And really good whisky at that. Maker's Mark – bourbon whisky, to be precise. I've tried it several times in various bars (for example, Bruckmann's Bar in Neuhausen or Hans im Glück) and each time I thought: "Excellent!" And because I thought that, I've since done a little more research and would like to encourage you to try something new at your local bar (or a new bar altogether): Maker's Mark whisky (or, more accurately, "Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky"), because it's always worthwhile to taste new things, and this is certainly one of them.

So that you know exactly what you're ordering and drinking, here's the most important information that even a "non-expert" can understand. First, a general overview of whisky: Whisky is primarily characterized by a maturation period of at least three years in a wooden cask and an alcohol content of less than 94.8%. Whisky is only considered whisky, both in name and substance, if it is produced by distilling water and grain mash and meets the aforementioned criteria. The first whisky was recorded as early as 1494, and a great deal of time has passed since then, with many (over 100 different) varieties being distilled. The Maker's Mark distillery – incidentally, the oldest continuously operating bourbon distillery in the world – takes a slightly different approach: There is no fixed maturation period for their whisky. Instead, a select panel of tasters, including the master distiller, checks each cask at least five times during maturation and decides with absolute certainty whether the whisky is ready or needs a little more time.

One of the very best whiskeys is definitely Maker's Mark. Of course, I don't know everything the market has to offer in terms of whiskey, but enough to be able to distinguish good from bad, high-quality from less so, and noteworthy from "No thanks!" But let's start from the beginning: Maker's Mark is an American, handcrafted bourbon whiskey. A whiskey can be called a bourbon if it's made from a distillate of a grain mixture containing at least 51% corn and originates from the USA. So, if you're drinking a (Maker's Mark) bourbon whiskey, you can be sure it comes from America and adheres to specific production standards. Maker's Mark, for example, is distilled at its own distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.

Maker's Mark whiskey is easy to drink and full-bodied in flavor. It's no wonder it has been perfected over many years. For over 40 years, this exact flavor has remained unchanged, ensuring you always have the same taste experience in your glass, no matter where you buy your Maker's Mark | Bourbon Whiskey bottle. Maker's Mark whiskey uses red winter wheat instead of traditional rye. This avoids the often harsh spiciness found in rye-based whiskeys and guarantees the aforementioned full-bodied flavor. The combination of naturally malted barley, yellow corn, and red winter wheat also gives it a distinctive, rich, yet smooth aroma that has remained unchanged from bottle to bottle for half a century. The whisky shimmers enticingly in a reddish-amber hue in the chic bottle and personally convinced me during my private tasting with a truly extravagant and pleasant aroma: fruity, very mild, vanilla and caramel, as well as a slightly cocoa-like taste in the background with a floral note.

The whisky ferments in irreplaceable cypress wood vats. Some of these are truly irreplaceable, as they are over 200 years old. Before modern stainless steel tanks came into use, cypress wood was the preferred material for these fermentation vats. These vats still function today and offer a glimpse into the once common fermentation process in wooden casks, which can be seen on-site at Maker's Mark. For maturation, only charred white oak barrels are used. While a small amount of whisky is lost through absorption, the result more than compensates for this minor loss, as charring the barrels releases the wood's natural sugars into the bourbon, enhancing its smooth flavor. To ensure each barrel is exposed to consistent temperatures within the Maker's Mark warehouse, the transfer of barrels at the distillery is still done by hand. This is extremely rare and has long been abandoned in most distilleries, but this also ensures that every bottle of Maker's Mark whisky tastes the same.

It's not just that which makes Maker's Mark's taste so special. The water used for the whisky also plays a key role. It originates from limestone, is pure and iron-free, and comes from Maker's Mark's only water source – the 40,000 m² lake fed by the aforementioned limestone spring, located directly next to the Maker's Mark distillery. Sounds idyllic, doesn't it? To ensure the whisky is easy to sip and to remove impurities, it's distilled using a distinctive copper still. This is an important part of the double distillation process and simultaneously ensures the creation of a smooth sipping whisky. The efficiency of the double distillation might initially seem questionable, but after the first sip, you'll clearly notice that it results in a superior whisky.

The 0.7l bottle with its handcrafted red wax seal and hand-stamped label is available from around €27, while the 1-liter bottle starts at around €35. The whisky has an alcohol content of 45% ABV (%), so it shouldn't be enjoyed neat or on the rocks in excessive quantities. 😉 Maker's Mark is ideal for high-quality cocktails or long drinks (you can find recipes here). here (download). I don't share my bottle myself, otherwise there'd be so little left for me. 😉

My personal conclusion: I highly recommend trying this whisky, even if it won't become your new go-to drink at lunch or dinner. And that's not the point. Maker's Mark Bourbon Whisky is meant to taste good, to be a true delight with every sip, something special, and to showcase the meticulous production process and the high quality of the ingredients in every taste. Try the whisky and let me know what you think. I'd especially love to hear from true connoisseurs who have various whiskies to compare it to – I'd be very interested to hear from them. Cheers!

I will buy this product again: Yes.

Tested product: Maker's Mark
Address: various reference points
Website: Maker's Mark

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