Maker's Mark 46
Beam Suntory · Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto, KY
The 46 is a masterclass in what fire can add. Those ten seared French oak staves — Stave Profile No. 46, the one that gave this bourbon its name — transform a familiar wheated bourbon into something richer, spicier, and more complex, without losing the soft, approachable character that made Maker's Mark famous in the first place.
Nose
Rich butterscotch, vanilla bean, toasted oak, baking spice, dried cherry, and a whisper of caramel corn
Palate
Silky and layered — caramel custard, cinnamon sugar, dark fruit compote, toasted pecans, and warm oak tannins that build without biting
Finish
Long and warming with lingering butterscotch, gentle oak char, and a clean brown-spice fade
- Mash Bill
- 70% Corn, 16% Soft Red Winter Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — The Seared Old Fashioned: 2 oz Maker's Mark 46 · 1 barspoon maple syrup · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · 1 dash orange bitters · Orange peel, torched with a lighter to caramelize the oils. Stir over a single large cube.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Crème brûlée — the torched sugar crust mirrors the seared oak staves, and the custard echoes the bourbon's butterscotch core.
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