Maker's Mark Cask Strength

questioning the 90 rating...

향 : 태운설탕, 화한민트, 맛 : 바로 혀 끝에 강한 스파이시, 매움, 가벼운 바닐라의 달콤함, 피니쉬 : 태운오크, 맵지만 짧게 떨어지는 피니쉬, 뭔가 깊은맛이 없는듯 하여 내스타일이 아님

Nice color, slow legs. Characteristic red wheat nose with floral hints, maple syrup, oak char and a whiff of ethanol to remind you this isn’t your typical Makers. Mouthfeel is nice until the proof hits and then bang! Everything gets mixed up until the slightly oily, red wheat finish (which has a spicy bite all its own but different from that of rye). I’m honestly enjoying the finish and don’t feel rushed to go back just set. The corn and maple sweetness also lingers in a pleasant way for minutes at a time. Back at the nose I imagine maple pecan pancakes on a rainy day. Second sip starts like the first - mild, slight viscosity, corn sweetness and again BANG comes the proof. Maybe I should have worked my way up to this one and it wouldn’t but so much but odd how it doesn’t come along until mid palate. It’s overall a pleasant pour and the finish is long lasting and fantastic. They layers of sour mash, maple, spice, nuttiness and oak char are all there. By the fourth sip the burn is more tame but is still felt making me wonder how it could be tamed or if it even should. The sensation is a bit unbalanced vs something like a ECBP or Weller Full Proof. Drinks like a 125+ Bookers with less hints of aged oak. Good? Oh yes. My favorite of the cask strength / barrel proof bourbons out there? Noop. If offered a dram - take it. There might be a reason most of the bottles sold are 375ml. I’m hoping my 750ml takes some with age but it will get finish eventually.

Caramel with strong finish.

Not loving this as much as even regular makers mark. Makers is cherry, sweetness, vanilla, caramel. This is alcohol first and foremost o.k. it's cask strength but i've had makers 46 at 114 proof that wasn't this alcohol forward. Once you struggle through the alcohol you get some cherry and vanilla that was it for me. Taste was a bit more complex but in addition to the fruit alcohol and vanilla there was a waxy milk chocolate like cheap almost fake chocolate and a slight bitter coffee note that was a bit of a turn off for me. It's good just not that good so I'll stick to makers and 46.