Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon Review

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
108 – 114 Proof (varies by batch)
Non-age stated
MSRP: $42-$47 average prices
Review

Please enjoy our Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon review!

From Maker’s Mark Distillery: “Bottled at barrel proof, Maker’s Mark^® Cask Strength ranges from 108 to 114 proof depending on the barrels. Surprisingly smooth, this bourbon retains the signature, front-of-the-palate flavors of Maker’s Mark^®while amping up the vanilla and rich oak notes.”

That statement really sums up this bourbon. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is basically Maker’s Mark Bourbon as it was meant to be.

Originally A Limited Release

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon is a relatively recent addition to the distillery’s line up. As a matter of fact, it was first introduced as a limited release back in 2014. However, at that time, it was packaged only in 375ml bottles and had very limited availability. Nonetheless, I remember trying it back then, and I thought it was fantastic. The higher proof really brought forward some delicious flavors that were more subdued in the “standard” 90 proof Maker’s Mark Bourbon. Others agreed, because eventually, Maker’s Cask Strength became available in full size bottles and was added as a permanent part of the Maker’s Mark portfolio.

Technical Details

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon is a batched whiskey, and the proof varies based on the barrels used. Since Maker’s puts their distillate into barrels at 110 proof, and rotates their barrels during aging, the final proof does not get all that high, and can even drop. That explains the range of 108 – 114. My bottle has a proof of 109.6, which is towards the lower end of the spectrum.

The mash bill of 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat and 14% malted barley is the same for all of Maker’s bourbons. Likewise, the barrels in Cask Strength are aged the standard 6+ years or so, the same as for the 90 proof version. Maker’s does not generally put age statements on their bourbons, other than Cellar Aged. In fact, they say that their bourbon is aged to taste, rather than to a specific age, so there is some variability in the ages at which each barrel is dumped. Lastly, Maker’s screen filters the bourbon to remove pieces of char. There’s no chill-filtration or other processing here. This is pure, unadulterated Maker’s Mark Bourbon, as it was meant to be.

Tasting Notes – Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Toffee, brown sugar, dark cherries, vanilla, orange peel, noticeable alcohol vapor
👉🏻Taste: Toffee, brown sugar, vanilla, orange peel, mild dry oak and tannins
👉🏻Finish: Mild sweetness rapidly fades; black pepper, tannins and dry oak; fairly long and dry; moderate warmth

There are many of the same flavors in Cask Strength as there are in regular Maker’s Mark Bourbon. However, the intensity and proportions of each are different. In the nose, toffee, brown sugar and dark cherries are up front, with vanilla and tart orange peel in the background. The alcohol is noticeable, not unsurprisingly, given the higher proof.

The taste of Maker’s Cask Strength is dominated by the toffee and brown sugar, however there is also a bit of dry oak, tannins, orange peel and dark cherries as well. The finish has lingering sweetness, but as that fades, there’s black pepper, tannins and dry oak as well. Given how rich this bourbon started out, the finish is surprisingly dry.

Conclusion – Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon Review

To me, Cask Strength is the perfect version of Maker’s Mark, well, maybe other than Maker’s 46 Cask Strength, which is my absolute favorite of the standard releases. The best Maker’s characteristics are brought forward, with a richness that the lower proof version is lacking. If you are fan of Maker’s Mark Bourbon at 90 proof, but feel that it could be so much more, then you’ll want to give Cask Strength a try. Have you had it? What do you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our review! If you would like to read about the distillery, then check out our detailed Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour Review. To learn about some of their other bourbons, read our Maker’s 46 Cask Strength, Maker’s Mark 101 and our Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky reviews!

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!