Maker's Mark 101

MM101 neck pour Nose: Vanilla, Queen Anne Cherries, Apple, wood char Palate: the cherries really come through with a nice vanilla ice cream mouthfeel, dark caramel, and a pleasant burn mid palate Finish: cinnamon surprise and a surprisingly dry finish compared to the creamy mouthfeel, caramel and vanilla last until the next sip

Remember the movie Step Brothers? Among its eminently quotable lines, one stands out to me as I taste this bourbon: “Did we just become best friends?!” Makers has been hit and miss for me. Thanks to some lovely community suggestions, I took a chance on this at $33 and as a result of the pandemic effecting travel retail markets. So glad I did. This is my new favorite wheater. The nose has that grassy Makers quality I like, but unlike the standard Makers, also some notes of bitter dark chocolate. That translates to a crazy milk chocolate/coffee/caramel thing on the palate that would be worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake on the Great British Baking Show. Medium finish, but so lovely. You buy this. You buy it now and bunker a few bottles for when it inevitably runs out. Makers is on to something here, and it’s no wonder why they serve this version on their tours. This leaves me asking, “Why isn’t this their standard release!?” It’s in a league of its own above BOTH standard 90 proof makers and the cask strength. It wouldn’t cost Beam Suntory THAT much in overhead to make the switch. I’m just sayin...