Maker’s Mark just announced the latest installment of its Wood Finishing Series “The Keepers Release”. This limited-edition bourbon honors its dedicated warehouse team responsible for the process of barrel rotation, ensuring the consistent flavor profile that Maker’s Mark is renowned for.
The inaugural Wood Finishing Series release debuted June 2024. Labeled “The Heart Release”, it used 2 different toasted French Oak Staves profiles. Profile 1 was finished for 5 weeks, Profile 2 finished for 9 weeks, of which the blend of both profiles created the final product.
QUICK FACTS
- PROOF: 109.2 (54.6% abv)
- PRICE: $75 (750ml)
- AVAILABILITY: Now at select wide locations
Celebrating the Unsung Heroes
The warehouse team at Maker’s Mark plays a pivotal role in the bourbon’s aging process. Their responsibilities include the labor-intensive task of hand-rotating each barrel from the top to the bottom of the warehouses. This practice ensures that every barrel matures uniformly, adhering to the taste vision set by the founders.
Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director at Maker’s Mark, expressed, “We are delighted to introduce this latest Wood Finishing Series expression that celebrates the team who still rotate each and every barrel of Maker’s Mark by hand and who continue to embrace our founders’ perfectly unreasonable pursuit of excellence.”
Crafting “The Keepers Release”
This expression begins with fully matured, cask-strength Maker’s Mark bourbon, aged between six to seven years. The bourbon is then finished using two distinct types of toasted American oak staves:
- Stave Profile 1: Barrels finished with this stave underwent an additional five weeks of aging.
- Stave Profile 2: Barrels with this stave were finished for nine weeks.
After the finishing period, the two batches were blended in equal proportions and bottled at cask strength, resulting in a robust 109.2 proof (54.6% ABV).
Availability and Pricing
Released on March 19, 2025, “The Keepers Release” is available at select retailers across the United States. The suggested retail price is $75 per bottle.
For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com
