Whiskey_Hound
Reviewed
September 3, 2018 (edited September 20, 2024)
Maker’s 46 was one of my very first “favorite bourbons”—one of the ones that elevated my interest above the bottom shelf. It actually inspired me to begin reviewing whisky, and yet, after all these years, I’ve yet to do this one the service of a proper review. And since this bottle needs no further introduction, I’ll get right to it.
Nose: Loads of caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla. Some toffee and coffee. Cherry and gala apple. Cola. Vick’s Vapor Rub. Some bready notes with toasted almond. Walnut. Cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and vanilla. Milk chocolate. Cherry and gala apple. Vanilla pecan ice cream. Peanut butter. Cola. Toasted almond. Cocoa and black pepper. Maybe faint tobacco smoke. Maybe. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak spice.
Finish: Heavy on the cherry, gala apple, and Vick’s Vapor Rub. Caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla. Bitter oak. Orange citrus, pipe smoke, black pepper, and cocoa. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and white pepper. Moderate-long.
This is just fantastic. Since this is one of the whiskies that got me going in my formative years, it’d be hard to say there is no bias—considering this may well have informed my palate. Yet, we all evolve, and for me, this retains its quality. Clean but potent and flavorful. An immense step up over the standard MM—and for only $9 more.
And that’s really the kicker here. On quality alone I give this a 4.5/5. But the fact that I can get a top rate bottle of whisky for the meager price of $40 is worth an extra half star. It’s that good of a deal. If the Weller’s and the Pappy’s are too much, MM46 is your answer for a go-to wheater. Superb.
40.0
USD
per
Bottle