Maker's Mark Cask Strength Batch 20-02 (110.4 Proof)

Cherry, barrel spice, oak, vanilla, sweet with some heat.

MMCS 20-02/110.4 Proof- (On sale in NC this Sept for $40) NOSE: A little heat at first. Takes a while to open up to notes of Vanilla, Cinnamon, Buttered Wheat Toast, Hay and Old Barn Wood, and Cherry Cobbler. NEAT: Mouthfeel is a little thin but surprisingly clingy and coats very nicely with a Peppery Tingle. Enters with Cherry Coke, and Cinnamon Discs. You get Spicy Oak Mid-Palate. Black Coffee on the Finish. Nice growing KY Hug. An aftertaste of Slightly Bitter Oak, Medicinal Cherry and Cinnamon coat and layer the palate. SPLASH: A little water replaced the Cherry Coke with Brown Sugar. Tannins are a little more pronounced and the finish is a little spicier. Seems like it would do well with a large cube. Verdict: I don't turn to this one often due to its $50 price tag, but it is on sale for $40 this month at NC ABC's. I really disliked the new bottle when it was first introduced (and I still think it's a downgrade from the squat, fat embossed version it replaced) but it was starting to grow on me after seeing it in person. Alas, I pull the string under the wax to open it and find a *gasp* screw cap. Sigh. Oh, well. The contents (which is really all I should care about) of the bottle are very good. I like cask strength offerings that stay in the 110'ish range and allow you to enjoy them without much dilution. It's not a super complex offering, but the black coffee note was a new one for me from Maker's. At $40, I may buy a couple this month to keep in the bunker.