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The higher-proof and "uncut" version of ifs French oaked sibling, Maker's No. 46 Cask Strength seeks to blast you with stronger waves of the caramel finish flavors you loved at 94 proof. Bill Samuels Jr. wanted to take the family recipe and spruce it up, adding 10 seared French Oak Staves (profile number 46 from the Independent Stave Company) and making his own mark on the family legacy. Standard Maker's Mark completes its aging for 6-8 years before being batched and recoopered into barrels with the added French oak Staves for another 9-10 weeks. 46 had the distinction of being the first in Maker's Stave finishing program which paved the way for the current Private Selection offering by which customers choose distinct stave profiles with which to finish barrels to their own tastes and designs (see also the Lost Recipe series). First released as a distillery limited edition in 2015, you can find Cask Strength in a slowly increasing number of outlets.
🛒Sourced: $65.99 from Maker's Mark Distillery Gift Shop, KY 750ml. I've seen it at other retailers like Total wine sporadically, but had been hunting for a good long while. Seeing it $60 at best and more commonly around $70. Picked it up in addition to my ambassador bottles, Yey!
🧪Proof: 110.8 proof, 55.4% ABV - this is batch dependent and to taste. You'll see values between 107 and 114 proof with most around the 110 mark. At this proof, around 18% water by volume would be added to get down to the standard 47% alcohol for the regular edition..
🎨Color: R6 - A shade darker than the lower proof iteration, a small variation but easily noticeable in a side-by-side. A full and an robust bark brown. Long legs indeed.
🥔Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 16% Red Winter Wheat, 14% Malted Barley. Barrel entry proof is 110 and I respect them for it. Makers put out a a limited release called the DNA project with Maker's Mark at a range of proofs and validated their historic choice as being perfect at 110. Screen filtered. Non-chill filtered.
👃Nose: Gobs of caramel, a bit boozy, French vanilla, marshmallow fluff. It is a pretty darn full nose, smelling to proof. Can definitely feel the nostril hairs when I sniff deeply trying to search out nuance.
😜Palate: Remarkably absent of heat, old oak, more vanilla than candy to my taste. Full mouthfeel, verging on creamy.
💦Finish: Medium in length, Biscoff cookie, baking spice, a hit of corniness.
🏆 Overall: 6.75/10 - Great, It's just more No. 46 - I put the cask strength just a hair above its standard release. It has a fuller mouthfeel and developed flavors, but there is an intensity to it that means you'll not get much additional nuance until the finish. This does come at the price of a dynamic palate and a steep hit to the wallet. I don't find the acidity and burnt wood that I get with the lower proof version which will be a boon to some and a sadness to others. That being said, Maker's really doesn't miss; this is great whiskey.
💵Would buy again? No, the Lost Recipe series and private selects I think do more to justify the price. On the balance, I think I prefer the standard edition No. 46 at its price point, less than half of this bottle.
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously.