It was sometime last year that the news of Maker’s 46, from Maker’s Mark hit the streets. This was a variety of the regular brand in the fact that they matured the regular one with some extra French Oak staves in the barrel. Its not legal in Europe to follow this practice as the guys at Compass Box found out with their Spice Tree whisky.
At the time of tasting this whisky I didn’t look up what the difference was with the regular Mark, which, in hindsight, I think was smart to come to an unprejudiced review.
Nose:
Lots of soft spices with a hint of burnt wood, bread crust and cinnamon. In the end if you take a slow long long sniff, there is a hint of glue. This is a problem that lots of bourbons have, so it doesn’t really surprise nor trouble me.
Taste:
Rather dry at first with dusty grain. The taste is rather full, though. All regular Maker’s Mark flavours are increased (as far as I can remember). The spices are there again, but are more clearly pronounced, as is the wood.
Finish:
The finish is long and ful of flavour. A little astringent, spicy and again the singed wood.
A very nice dram. I love the fact that this kind of innovative variety isn’t killed off by any association or law. I think I might be getting a sample (or bottle) or regular Maker’s Mark soon, to compare this one to.
Thanks to Antoine for the sample! Loved it!
Maker’s Mark 46, 47%, about €40, but rather hard to get.
Nose: 8
Taste: 7
Finish: 8
Overal experience: 8
Price/quality: +1
Total: 32 points
Malt Fascination 
S,
tasting it and loved it! I think it’s one level above the regular maker’s.
and the bottle is so sexy…
can you get the bottle in NL?
Not available in Nl , yet.
Wasn’t it illegal for C.B. because of the malt whisky , i can’t remember reading anywhere that it goes for bourbon as well.
I gave you the sample…..
Sorry, I’ll correct it. Wasn’t 100% sure…
No problem! I just needed some attention 🙂
Do you want the regular Maker’s Mark as well?
Sure! Its been ages since I tasted that one… An update on my palate never hurts, right?
hhm, i almost forgot. Antoine gave me a sample of the 46 MM as well (yes he looks a bit like Santa ;), and i have a bottle of the regular MM. I’ll pair ‘m this evening, let you know what my findings are.
O.k., i’ve paired them twice. The standard version is more fresh/varnishy, the MM 46 has lots of vanilla and oak ‘infused’ as if it’s twice the age, in general it’s ‘warmer’. On the nose i detected a sort of synthetic smell that i can’t put my finger on. The added staves had a bigger impact than i expected.
So i agree with Sjoerd’s ‘conclusion’ that it’s an enhanced version of the standard MM.
If i could choose i’d go probably for the MM 46 though.
Grtz,
EMalt