Name: Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon
Color: Brown
Nose: Caramel sweet, corn, light wood
Taste: Wheat, wood, caramel, strong alcohol
Review:
Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon is another in a growing line of expressions from Maker’s Distillery in Kentucky, USA. The mash bill is 70% corn, 16% Red Winter Wheat, and 15% Malted Barley. The bourbon is aged 5-3/4 to 7 years in a limestone cellar which is not really impressive since most of Kentucky is limestone. Private Select is bottled non-aged stated and ranges from 54% to 57% abv (108-114 proof). In this expression ten custom wood staves are added to each barrel to create a unique flavor profile. The combination of the 10 different staves and can be customized with 5 different flavor profiles with a retail partner to produce a desired taste. After the barrel is finished, and some creative math is calculated, it gives 1,001 flavor combinations with this expression. I guess they did carry the “1”.
So in summary, it is Maker’s Mark high proof bourbon with special pieces of wood for flavor that is bottled with less water in it. I know this because the price difference is scaled with proof and label.
Scale in % abv versus price:
- Maker’s Mark: 45% abv = $35
- Maker’s 46: 47% abv = $45
- Maker’s Cask Strength: 55+% abv = $65
- Maker’s Private Select: 54-57% abv = $75
Maker’s Cask Strength Bourbon with special wood to create something different is different, but is still kind of the same stuff. The secret about Maker’s Mark (besides the wheat) is the is amount of water and marketing. Less water means higher proof and a little Mad Men Marketing and there ya go! You can drink Maker’s Cask Strength for less and the high proof will make it difficult to determine the flavor profile without water to cut it for the average drinker. This is the kind of bourbon I like to make my high-quality cocktails with.
Priced around $75 and worth the money if you got it the money or want to give “more specialer” gift to someone.
If you like it, drink it! – Christopher
If you like it, drink it!
