Maker's Mark Cask Strength

110.7 proof. Muted nose, mostly alcohol. On the palate, smooth for the proof. Some fruit notes, and pleasant bitterness at the end. 9/30/18 So I decided to give this some air time. 13 months later... and not much has changed. Stronger nose than I remember, the ethanol is still there but more fruit this time, and some astringent wood. On the palate, thin at first, turns creamier towards the end. Still light and smooth for the proof, some fruit, some leather. Was hoping the underlying bitterness would decrease, but it's still prominent. 11/6/19

I have never been a fan of Maker's, the flavor profile was always a little too sweet for me and didn't have much of a finish. Maker's Cask Strength on the other hand, well, that is a different story! The palate is nice and rich, coating your entire tongue. Right away you get the familiar Maker's flavor profile, cinnamon, caramel, vanilla and dark fruits, but with a pleasant kick (i.e., heat, spice). The dram drinks quite smooth despite being higher in proof. The best way I can describe it is a Maker's Mark on steroids. The higher proof has just the perfect amount of heat, adding life to the bourbon without being overpowering. The flavor profile reminds me of Weller Antique 107, which makes sense since both are wheated bourbons, and is a great alternative during those times of the year when the Weller products are scarce. I will definitely be adding this one to my list of dailies.

Less smooth than regular Maker’s, and lacked the depth that many of the Private Select bottlings have offered. This is a good entry level cask strength offering to those exploring full proof offerings. It was good, but I would prefer a Private Select bottling, Bulleit Barrel Strength or Barrell Bourbon. I tried it.