BACKGROUND: RC6 is the 2019 release in the series of Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Limited Editions. Virgin oak staves are seasoned for roughly 18 months and then toasted in an oven in order to impart various natural flavors when added to a fully-matured barrel of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, which is then aged for an additional period. Only 255 barrels were produced in the 2019 RC6 release, and their proofs range from 108.2, like the bottle I own, to 110.5. Originally available for purchase only in the distillery gift shop, RC6 was distributed to stores as an allocated release in fall of 2019 and carried a retail price of $59.99. NOSE: The RC6 nose smells EXACTLY like the sweet syrup in a can of fruit cocktail. Try as I might to discern individual aspects of the nose, only a general note of fruit and sweetness comes through. It is a pleasant olfactory experience, though. PALATE: The same general fruit cocktail sweetness on the nose translates into a fruit bomb explosion on the palate. A note of barrel char is nestled within the sweetness, as well. Perhaps the only specific fruit note I can discern is some banana. The palate is all at once both simple and complex…if that makes sense. FINISH: The finish contains one brief flash grenade of pepper before quickly dissipating back into the overwhelming fruit sweetness that dominates this bourbon. The finish is also very drying, which may be an aftereffect of the wood finishing. FINAL ASSESSMENT: For many years, Maker’s Mark was considered a “beginner’s bourbon” by aficionados because of its sweetness and relatively low proof. Many of those opinions change when, decades after its founding, the distillery began marketing its Cask Strength, Maker’s 46, and Private Select offerings. The RC6 is an impressive addition to the lineup and one that veteran bourbon aficionados will enjoy.