Maker's Mark 46 Kentucky Bourbon Whisky, 70cl

Product Information

During one of John’s frequent travels, he managed to secure a bottle of this whiskey. And, to our delight, we’ve learned that Maker’s Mark 46 will soon be available in South Africa, making it easier to replace our beloved bottle when the time comes. That being said I feel like maker’s mark number 46 is almost a little too good. It’s almost as if the simplicity that I love about maker’s mark original is overpowered by new flavors and a stronger taste. With its distinct character and unique production process, this bourbon is a must-try for any bourbon connoisseur.

In 2014, Beam Inc. was acquired by Suntory. The U.S. holding company Beam Suntory was formed to oversee the North American portfolio. Maker’s took a while to arrive at the conclusion that they should release a cask-strength version of Maker’s 46. They finally did in 2015, but it was a distillery-only release. In a true demonstration at how much they hated change, they held off on true nationwide distribution for this product until at least 2020.In 1968, American Tobacco acquired the Jim Beam brand under a new holding company called Fortune Brands.

The nose is rich with standard Maker’s notes like vanilla, caramel, and oak, but with a faint hint of dark chocolate. The “46” designation represents the culmination of countless experiments, with experiment No. 46 ultimately achieving the desired flavour profile.

Caramel and toasted wood moving along with vanilla ice cream, under ripe citrus, sweet grains, roasted corn, cinnamon and a host of sweet dessert notes. Much more depth of flavor than the traditional Maker’s Mark. Rich and creamy. There are notes of oak, vanilla cinnamon, all perfectly balanced. The Maker's 46 has a big mouthfeel. It is smooth like creamed honey. After the second sip, butter toffee, toast and hints of pepper show up. Water softens the heat a bit, but it is easy enough to drink without water. The coffee bean note hangs around from the palate and vanilla kind of rounds everything out. It still stays sweet enough to be a really satisfying experience overall. Score: 8/10 PALATE: Rich and creamy. There are notes of oak, vanilla cinnamon, all perfectly balanced. The Maker’s Mark 46 has a big mouthfeel. It is smooth like creamed honey. After the second sip butter toffee, toast and hints of pepper show up. While water can mellow the heat, sipped neat’s just as delightful. Easy drinking with cinnamon and fruity sweetness; it is lovely. However, when you put the Maker’s 46 next to it, you can immediately taste what the extra time in the wood did to the whiskey.