Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

I'm a huge fan of cask strength whiskey because the sweetness and vanilla/wood notes are more apparent and "in your face". There is a tanin dryness that I suspect the french oak is imparting that lingers all the way to the finish. There are spice notes akin to cloves that I find very pleasant throughout the dram.

4.25-

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Vanilla, with caramel and a hint of maple. Palate: Baking spice, clove, and some oak tannins. Finish: The spice fades quickly, leaving a pleasant clove that lingers. Splash: No new flavors are revealed, but the clove and oak become more pronounced. Overall: 8/10 - This is a fine dram, but considering the price and rarity, I expected more. Will probably hold up well with an ice cube or in a cocktail.

Dig it

Nose: chococale carmel brownie, root beer, smores Pallet: char/toasted oak, burnt toast, leather

2023, Batch 23-02. Mashbill 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley, aged 4 years, finished with 10 French oak staves, bottled at 110.1 proof. Tasting neat. Bright copper color and good coating legs in the glass. Nose is brown sugar, cinnamon and baking spice, oak char, grassy, and some ethanol. Really nice. In the mouth, burnt sugar, char, cinnamon, vanilla, and then dry tannic oak. Dark, with a little cherry, and then dry, holding the sweet in check. Slightly oily, but a thin mouthfeel, with appropriate ethanol tingle and heat. Finish is dried fruit, char, tannins, and dry. Average length. Ice cube tames the tannic oak and lets that sweet wheated bourbon shine. Makers Mark profile with an extra dose of French oak and at cask strength. Not surprising, but what's not to like? Ok, I like the initial 2020 taller rounded bottle and cork like the Wood Finishing Series rather than this traditional squared MM bottle and screw cap, but... that's just packaging. Overall, a solid high-proof wheated bourbon.