Tastes

Great peaty nose with a straight pour, open up the nose to get more floral with a drop of water.

Don’t let the “organic” label scare you. This is surprisingly complex and full or flavor. Nose is sweet and smoky. First taste was vanilla, second was oak, third was brown sugar. Opened it up with a small ice cube which really brought out the smoky flavor. One of my new recommendations at the bar. Great for sipping neat or in a manhattan.

Maker’s Mark is a high quality, well crafted whiskey. As a bartender, however, MM presents some potential dangers due to it’s makeup. The “wheated” quality and smooth candy corn and vanilla flavoring is what made it famous. It’s quite palatable even for non-whiskey enthusiasts, but this often masks it’s 90-proof, especially in drinks like an old fashioned or manhattan where it almost doesn’t feel like you’re drinking whiskey. I try to talk people out of using it in mixed drinks for that reason. Pored on the rocks so it dilutes just a little bit is the perfect way to enjoy Maker’s Mark.

One of my favorite sipping whiskeys and one that I prefer neat with just a splash of water.

We use this as the core for our signature “Smokey Old Fashioned.” It’s a solid choice for it’s body and nose accentuated by the orange garnish. It will also suffice as a sipping whiskey, but I recommend it on a rock to release the aroma and dilute. A little too much bite if served neat.