Kentucky Bourbon at Its Finest
Maker’s Mark 46 “K&L Exclusive Barrel #905″
Private Select Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($69.99)
“Another slam dunk from the little distillery in Loretto.”
—David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer
One of the most successful programs in our Spirits Department is the Private Select project done in partnership with Maker’s Mark. Through this innovative program, our spirits buyers are given the opportunity to blend their own unique K&L bottling based on the addition of different wood stave types to a barrel of Maker’s 46. The barrel is then stored in a specially designed warehouse carved into the side of a hill that allows the perfect aging conditions. The results carry the trademark characteristics of Maker’s Mark, yet possess their own distinctive stamp.
Barrel #905 is a magical concoction. Unmistakably a wheated bourbon, it shows a wonderful depth of flavor showcasing flavors of Madagascar vanilla, coconut, toasted marshmallow, and subtle wood spice. Clocking in at 110.1 proof, it isn’t timid, but still manages to show remarkable balance. If you are a fan of Pappy and other high-wheat styles, then you really need to give the #905 a try as it delivers the goods, but for a fraction of the price. If you’ve had previous bottlings of the Private Select, we highly recommend this tantalizing rendition.
Maker’s Mark 46 “K&L Exclusive Barrel #905″ Private Select Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($69.99)
We cannot get enough of the wonderful Maker’s Mark 46 cask program. With no end in sight to the clamor for high-proof wheated bourbon like Pappy, any chance we have to snag these barrels we take. Never mind the fact that Maker’s Mark makes some of the very best wheated bourbon on the market, they add a spectacular level of intrigue with the unique 46 program. Each of these casks sees additional aging with added staves hanging in the upright barrels. This allows for a truly amped-up, but perfectly integrated flavor profile. This particular cask has a mix of 6 Baked American Pure 2 staves to dial up the vanilla and sweetness, 3 Seared French Cuvée for amazing spiciness and a little more caramel, and 1 classic Maker’s 46 stave, the only stave used in the original 46 whiskey. The end result is a rocking bourbon that tips the scales at 110.1 proof and is a powerful, sweet, complex and hedonistic dive into wheated bourbon.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 07, 2018
Maker’s Mark Private Select is quickly becoming one of our most beloved single barrel programs. We’ve messed around with several different recipes but this particular mixture of wood types seems to be the sweet spot. Many of our customers have compared these exceptional whiskies to the very best available, if not better. This awesome barrel is just more of the same deliciousness. The incredible, rich, sweet wheat of the cask-strength Maker’s is bolstered significantly by the heady vanilla and spice of the various staves. The powerful concoction is balanced on the palate, drinking way below its proof, with absolutely no burn. Instead, a dark roasty coffee bean and stewed tropical fruit keep the spice and caramel in check on the palate. Another slam dunk from the little distillery in Loretto.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 30, 2018
For the Private Select program, Maker’s Mark lets us choose the stave types going into the barrel for extra maturation. K&L spirits buyers selected a mix of American white oak, extra seared French oak, and a little of the classic Maker’s 46 staves. Bold spice is instantly noticeable with notes of cinnamon, fresh ground pepper, and clove. Then the wash of fresh vanilla bean, creme brulee, and caramel comes through with some fruity elements, most particularly coconut. The different wood types and char levels of the various staves really present themselves on the palate. This bourbon is downright toasty! It has very bold char flavors, a little campfire, burnt marshmallow, and then the coconut comes back all toasted too.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 30, 2018
The power of this bourbon is terrific. It’s a full throated roar of sweet, spicy, creamy, and woody flavors. The unique Maker’s Private Select program allows us to craft endlessly interesting additions to the already nearly perfect classic Maker’s Mark. Not only is it incredibly satisfying to see the nuance each stave type brings, it’s incredibly delicious. Here we essentially chose to amp up the natural intensity of bourbon by going heavy on the baked American staves, bring in some added wood complexity with the spicy French oak, and one classic Maker’s 46 stave for good measure. Full proof wheaters don’t come along often, especially those with such a pedigree. Barrel 905 is a wonderful example of why K&L will continue to support this program as long as they’re willing to keep doing it!
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2018
This is a really good bourbon. In the past few years bourbons with a high wheat content like Pappy Van Winkle have been very much in demand. The Maker’s 46 is a bourbon with a high wheat content with added barrel influences. The nose is inviting with an expressive sweetness. In the mouth it is rich, elegant and spicy. There is a nice mouthfeel and a long finish.
William Beare | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 27, 2018
The Maker’s Mark Private Select line is where for us, as both retailers and serious whiskey nerds, we really start giddily rubbing our hands together as we get an opportunity to put a truly unique influence on a whiskey we already adore. The whiskey begins as the classic Maker’s– fully matured, but left at barrel-proof. Specially treated staves (the ribs of a barrel) are then added to the pot, and left to age for nine weeks in a cool limestone cellar. The back of the bottle shows which staves were used for this selection– six virgin American oak staves (oven-baked at low temperatures), three ridge-cut, seared French oak staves, and one of the staves used to create the ordinary Maker’s 46 (also French oak at a different level of toast). The nose is full of brown sugar, oak, vanilla, and light winter spice. It hits the tongue with a burst of fruit and baked wood shavings that linger through the finish.
