Maker's Mark Cellar Aged (2024 Release)

Layers and layers of caramel and baking spices. Girl scout cookie thin mint essence

Introduction Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged saw its inception in 2023 and is now three consecutive years in. Both the 2023 and 2024 releases have been great bourbons, but unfortunately they tend to be prohibitively expensive once they are marked up on secondaries. It’s not uncommon to see bottles going for around $250–$300, which is a lot to spend even on a very special Maker’s Mark release. But looking at the 2025 bottling, I’m seeing prices anywhere from $160 up to around $300, so it does seem like the average is starting to drop a bit, which is a good sign. I really thought I had already written a review for 2024 Cellar Aged, especially since I’ve had this bottle open for over a year and it was running on empty. As life has been a little hectic, tragic, and generally upside down this year, it turns out this one slipped through the cracks. Luckily, I had just enough left in the bottle for one final pour and proper review, which is what I’m doing now. For context, this is the last pour from a bottle that’s been open about a year, so some of the edges may have mellowed slightly compared to a fresh crack. Nose Right away, the nose shows a strong hit of ethanol that matches the 59.7% ABV. Once you smell past that initial heat, you start to pick up some of the familiar Maker’s Mark notes: sweet vanilla, plus creamy milk chocolate that gives the nose a softer side. However, what really stands out here is how tannic and dry the oak comes across. The whole nose takes on a pretty noticeable tannic bite from the oak, which dries the nose compared to the more sticky-sweet character I usually get from Maker’s Mark releases at lower proofs. Going a bit deeper into the glass, there is a little bit of fruit in the form of overripened cherries. They’re not bright or tart; they’re darker and softer in character. On top of that, there is some baking spice present, predominantly cinnamon. Taste The taste opens with a bit of sweetness on the front, but almost immediately you get a tongue-tingling spiciness that sets in and stays with you throughout the entire taste. That tingle reads as cinnamon, and it never really lets go from the front of the palate all the way through to the back. Alongside that, there is a pretty assertive layer of tannic, dry oak that is present across the entire taste. It’s actually surprising how dominant the oak is here, especially compared to the 2023 Cellar Aged, which I remember as being significantly sweeter. Once you get past the overall spiciness and dryness, some of the softer notes begin to show. The milk chocolate from the nose does appear on the palate, and it’s joined by a buttery toffee note. These lend some sweetness and richness to the mid-palate, but they never quite overtake the oak and spice. In the background, there is also just a tiny hint of the darker, overripened cherry from the nose. The dry, spicy nature of the taste, driven by the tannic oak and cinnamon, really dominates the experience, and most of the other flavors end up playing second fiddle to those two. Finish The finish really dries up. That once creamy milk chocolate character from the front of the palate turns into more of a bittersweet dark cocoa powder on the back. It almost drinks like a mix of bittersweet dark chocolate and coffee grounds as it lingers. The cinnamon carries all the way through into the finish. The oak brings in a bit of char here. The finish is long-lasting, and the whole experience is supported by a very thick, viscous mouthfeel from start to finish. Conclusion This 2024 Cellar Aged release is very different from the 2023 bottling. I’m more of a fan of the sweeter Maker’s Mark special releases, and the 2023 Cellar Aged fit that preference better for me. The 2024 version, by contrast, shows a much drier, spicier, more oak-driven side of Maker’s Mark. In that sense, it’s interesting and worthwhile, because it reveals a facet of the distillery that a lot of people won’t see, especially given the cost of entry with the Cellar Aged line. That said, at this point in time, this 2024 bottling is more than a year old, and if you go out looking for one now, you’re unlikely to find it anywhere close to SRP. With secondary prices around $300, it’s hard to honestly recommend buying a bottle at that level for what you’re getting here. It is, however, definitely a different experience than most Maker’s Mark releases. Overall, it’s still a fine bourbon: high proof, with bite, character, and a thick mouthfeel. I just don’t know that I’d really see myself suggesting people go out and actively hunt this one down at the end of 2025, especially at current secondary pricing.

This is a special pour, behind the spiciness is a vanilla cherry deep pour with plenty of chracter. I think its worth the $155 price tag but that is coming from someone who loves makers and other cellar aged releases. I think ‘24 is better than ‘23 but not as good as ‘25 which isnt all that surprising from Makers who has been trying to and suceeding in improving on their traditional roots over the last 15 years. Spectacular pour.

1.5oz