Batch 19-01 108.8 proof Completing my Makers triumvirate run I opened this bottle a couple of weeks earlier, and I'm still putting out the curtains, this one reminds of a rookie taking the mound and spraying the plate with triple digit fast balls or as Glen Frey would say, the heat is on. This is one of those "needs a splash" bourbons that doesn't let you forget "cask strength" is more than just a marketing ploy. Not that it's bad heat, on the contrary there's something satisfying about a look inside the oven and still having a few eye lashes left, but a splash of water will easily open up some flavors in this fairly tight high proofer. Nose: heat, the smell of heat, also nice sweet bread spices and hints of clove and cinnamon with a small ethyl ting Front: Without water, loads of heat, more heat and then some heat, with water, a very warm cinnamon spice caramel red hot and brown sugar dram, it's a satisfying sugar profile though lacking in some of the vanilla and chocolates you would get with a Bookers or Stagg. Even with the notable high heat, it comes away as a smooth drink, which is something of a nice trick in itself. Finish: not as hot as you might expect after experiencing all of those earlier brow sweating moments, still plenty of warmth in the red spices range along with a leather and bitter nut follow through. Overall, pretty good, really a fine effort in fact maybe worthy of higher marks had the folks at Makers not already out done themselves with their seared stave creation in the 46, something I really couldn't recommend this over, but then there are plenty of cask proof, more expensive bottles I also wouldn't recommend over the 46, so that's not really the mark of shame that it might appear. Some of the higher proof batches of the wheated profile would be interesting to compare with, though they just don't seem to carry the rich sweet full sugar profile of the average Beam and BT mash at such strengths. The strong wheats bring some really nice notes but not the plethora you get with old standard rye in it's place. End of the day, there isn't any question, this is a major upgrade over the standard Makers Mark. Cheers!