Maker’s 46 Bourbon Review

BourbonReviewsAmerican WhiskeyWheatedMakers Mark

Jan 14

So…before the stones start coming my way, I tried this blind and am 50% convinced the sample or bottle was tainted. I can accept that I don’t like lower proof Maker’s Mark products, but a 3.2 that tastes like a rye? Ouch. I’m planning to try it blind again (if I knew when, it wouldn’t really be blind now would it), but for now it’s among the lowest scores I’ve ever given.

If someone at Maker’s Mark reads this, check out my upcoming reviews for Maker’s 101 and the SE4PR5 release - those got much better scores.

Maker’s Mark 46: Specs

Classification: American Bourbon

Origin: Maker’s Mark Distillery

Mashbill: 70% Corn, 16% Red Winter Wheat, 14% Malted Barley

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)

Age: NAS

Location: Kentucky

Maker’s 46 Price: $30 (MSRP)

Official Website

Maker’s Mark 46 Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Coppered gold, medium rims, no legs, droplets on the glass.

Nose: Um....muted? Herbal, light menthol. Butterscotch, burnt veggies, some fermentation funk.

Palate: Fruity - nectarines, orchards and stone fruits but not fresh. Still has a rye backbone and a little proof heat. Mouthfeel is light, suggests a lower proof but lots of oak and not much age.

Finish: Medium length, yet also almost nonexistent.

Overall: Blinded, my guess was a rye around the 75/21/4 profile, ~4yo, 95-100 proof. Clearly wrong on multiple levels, though this was not a pour I’d ever go back to. Other than the fruity note on the palate, this is just all wrong. Unbalanced, didn’t showcase or even seem to care about the wheat component. Stick to the SE4PR5.

Final Rating: 3.2

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)