Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 SE4 x PR5

Nose is incredible caramel and vanilla with some spice. To say it’s complex is an understatement. So many flavors packed in. Lots of spice, cinnamon at the front and it’s got some burn due to the proof. Even though I like Spicy and ryes, the finish feels like the spice has used my tongue as a punching bag. It’s just harsh and not pleasant. It’s the bitter sweet oak/ wood attack at the end that I guess I don’t like.

Nose is rich and creamy vanilla and caramel, mellow wood scent, slight fresh cracked black pepper. Taste is immensely peppery- woody and tannic, burns from the oak and alcohol content. Not very well balanced and the smell is deceiving with taste, you expect sweet and it delivers nothing but spice.

Nose: Caramel. Vanilla. Small whiff of graham cracker. Palate:. CARAMEL. Vanilla. Oak/wood. Alcohol spice. Nice cooking spices on the finish, with caramel and vanilla.

Not tasting due to dieting

Strong vanilla on the aroma, first sip was great with the bite from the Proof and tasted like what a fresh sanded piece of wood feels like.. after letting it sit was where it got really good.. something like sweet/salty caramel on the finish.. not my first choice at this price point but definitely pleased with the purchase

MM Wood Finishing Series 2020 NOSE: Nice. Standard Maker's with added Cinnamon Discs Candy and Oak. Buttered Wheat Toast. Sweet Iced Tea. Buttercream White Icing. Corn Pops Cereal. After a bit the smell of a freshly opened bag of Brown Sugar starts to dominate. The empty glass is Peach Cobbler. NEAT: Very Sweet upfront. Soft Buttery Mouthfeel. Vanilla, Brown Sugar, and Honey Butter. Mid-Palate is Drying Slightly Musty Oak. There is a hit of Tannins on the finish with a building KY Hug thanks to the 112 Proof. Sweet Oak and Brown Sugar layer and coat the palate with each sip. SPLASH: A little water accentuates the Cinnamon Discs on the nose. The palate gains some Butterscotch and loses some of the Tannic Bite. TWTWIRBM makes an apple cobbler in an iron skillet and that is what this reminds me of. The finish becomes very reminiscent of MM46. VERDICT: Solid. Much better than the only Private Select I've had. Last year's RC6 came and went in NC so fast that I missed it. When I saw this year's I didn't hesitate to pick it up. If you can find it for the MSRP of $60 like I did, grab it.