At Maker's Mark, the wood-finishing series explores new, unique expressions of their signature whisky. Beginning as fully matured Maker's Mark® at cask strength, Private Selection is created by adding ten custom wood finishing staves to each barrel. It's then aged in their limestone cellar to extract a unique, flavorful taste profile. Participants in this special barrel program get their say in selecting these wooden staves. The finishing staves can be any combination of five flavor profiles, especially for this program. With 1,001 possible stave combinations, each expression of Private Selection has a customized finish and unique taste profile, yet undeniably Maker's Mark.
From Lee Diaz, Topflight Series Panel Member:
The Maker's Mark® Private Selection process is unique from any other approach to finishing that I've seen in the whiskey space. Their in-barrel wood finishing allowed us to explore the distinct flavors developed by each of 5 different wood stave types, and then select our preferred combination of these staves to fit ten slots. Joined by the recently departed Spirits Editor for Uproxx, Zach Johnston, our tasting panel sampled each of the stave types individually to get a sense of the impact they would provide: Baked American Pure, Seared French Cuvée, Maker's Mark 46, Roasted French Mendiant, and Toasted French Spice.
Through a process of negotiation and discussion of flavors, we then explored various combinations, finally setting our sights on what we believe is a standout in this process: 4 Seared French Cuvée, 2 Maker's Mark 46, 4 Roasted French Mendiant. The result in this bottle is completely different from our first Private Selection and yet equally astounding. It is both bold and decadent from the nose to finish. As you open this bottle, you'll enjoy scents of cinnamon sugar, maple syrup, milk chocolate, and a subtle nuttiness that leads to sips full of graham crackers, cinnamon, pecan pie, honey, and cocoa. On the finish, those flavors give way to dark chocolate, Luxardo cherry, roasted cashew, and toasted oak.
Bottled at 109.1 proof, this is an incredibly smooth bourbon that still gives you that Kentucky hug. It lets you celebrate the work of Maker's Mark while enjoying some variation from the core products and Maker's 46 Cask Strength.
TOPFLIGHT: Series 2, Barrel No.13
PROOF: 109.10
AGE: 7 years / 6 month
MASHBILL: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
FINISHING BARREL: Stave Profile — 4 Seared French Cuvée, 2 Maker's Mark 46, 4 Roasted French Mendiant
CHAR / TOAST: Custom Wood Stave Finished
BARRELED ON: Staves Added May 2023
DATE PULLED: August 2023
