Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2024 The Heart Release

Color: Nice medium copper-amber. Nose: Molasses; brown sugar; sweet oak; leather. My wife says, "Coca Cola"... power of suggestion, perhaps. But I get what she's saying. This nose bodes well for the palate. Let's see... Palate: (Drank with an ice cube) Oh, wow! Sweet and slightly syrupy mouth feel at first sip. Mildest of mild chest hug. A good dose of oak char, and a very familiar "bitterness", but in no way off-putting. As I went in for another sip, I got hit in the nose with a big caramel wiff. Can't wait to see where this bottle goes on subsequent pours. The more I sip, the more "creamy" it feels on the tongue... and the more my tongue tingles. But I want to also say, this is pretty smooth for the proof. Hardly any burn or "alcohol" in the profile. It's all "sweet-spice-oak-char-caramel". Finish: I'd say this is one of the longer finishes in recent memory. Lots of spicy wood and more oaky sweetness. People, this is really good. I've not had many Maker's Marks recently. The 101, 46, the BRT's and BEP's are far back in the rear view mirror... though I know I enjoyed them all, I think this "Heart" takes top honors, as far as I can recall. I paid just over $70 for this bottle. It was being sold for $100 at another shop that's a lot closer. Am I glad I drove a little further to avoid paying $100 for it? Yes! Would I pay $70 for it again? Yes! Its a definite "buy again" — but only for the same price (or less, if possible). No more than that. I kinda wish I'd backed it up. Solid 4.0 stars. However, this is one I could see getting a bump in the near future.

My first pours were the best. It had a nice flavor profile that I enjoyed. Nothing jumping out, but nice bourbon flavor profile easy to drink. Now, a month or so later, I am getting a tinge of kerosene/gasoline in the flavor. It's not too prominent and I can ignore it, but IMO this flavor should not be there.

Nose - This bananas harder than jack man oh my good gracious. Literally sweet banana laffy taffy, plaintains, sweet vanilla banana rind. Banana puddin with vanilla wafer cookies. Palate - Vanilla banana oak cinnamon caramel. This is a great complexity i love it. Such a sweeter taste than I expected but very good. Finish - Little baking spice and some vanilla.

Aroma opens with black cherry, caramel chew candy, barrel char, toasted oak, grape, vanilla bean, leather and nutmeg. Ethanol somewhat present, but it’s not a killer. Complex. Palate brings chocolate, black cherry, walnut, burnt brown sugar, red apple, maple, toasted marshmallow, furniture polish, and gingerbread. There is a lot going on here. Oak is definitely prevalent, maybe a little too prevalent as it kind of overshadows some of the more desirable notes. Flavors are rich. Extremely long finish offers more oak, blood orange, cinnamon, pepper, clove, caramel, and an indistinct earthiness. Mouthfeel is excellent; full bodied and creamy. Compliments the flavor profile perfectly. An intriguing whiskey that does a nice job of blending fruit notes with dark sugars. At $79.99, it’s a winner. In fact, after tasting it I went back to the liquor store to get another bottle and surprise, surprise, it was gone. Ranks up there with some of the best of the previous wood finished releases.

Ome of the best makers mark product I've ever had. Great proof and great finish.