The bottle does not have that signature label from Margie’s creative mind. In fact, only the original Maker’s Mark utilizes that element of her design. Instead of the paper label, Maker’s Mark 46 is a clear bottle with the color of the Maker’s Mark label used as the color of the font.

Introduced in 2010, Maker’s Mark 46 was the first new variant produced by the distillery since it opened. It starts off life as a typical barrel of Makers Mark but then gets a little extra special sauce. I suppose I can’t write this article without choosing which bourbon I favor. The truth is that I see value in having both of these bourbons at your home bar. This is just right. There’s a good bit of caramel and vanilla to balance out the bitterness of the ginger beer, and there’s a touch of oak-y flavor that comes through to add some extra special something to the mix. The Roman numeral for four symbolizes Bill Samuels’ being the fourth-generation distiller of his family. (Fun fact: Bill Junior discovered at some point that his father was not the fourth-generation distiller he believed he was. 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.Excerpt: The more water I added the more I enjoyed it, but I was basically working my way towards the standard release drop by drop. Legend has it that Margie hand-dipped the first Maker’s Mark bottle in her home-fryer for that signature wax seal. I’d say it was worth ruining the fryer! Maker’s Mark Specs The Maker’s 46 is creamier and more decadent with bolder cherry and toasted oak notes, more spices with added complexity and an oilier mouthfeel. The complexity continues on the finish. A fantastic glass of bourbon.

Cherries, brandied fruit, toasted wood and vanilla spice. Adding a few drops of water brings out more spice and woody notes. Produced in small batches of 20 barrels or less, Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength is a moderately limited release that features nothing but the French Oak staves used for 46 and bottling at cask strength. Once a distillery only release, Maker's Mark 46 CS can now be found across the country. Hirsch Horizon Straight Bourbon is a high-rye content bourbon that’s similar to the Maker’s Mark 46. This bourbon is oaky, nuanced, and complex. I’d highly recommend the Hirsch for any bourbon or rye drinker. It also usually costs a few dollars less than the Maker’s Mark 46! This is the epitome of what most people think of when they think of what a bourbon tastes like, which makes sense because bourbon is a trendsetter and has been since its creation. When we think of bourbon, we think of this nose, this taste on the palate, and this finish. Do other profiles exist?

Of course, I also mixed the Maker’s Mark 46 in an Old Fashioned. This made a wonderful drink as well, and I wasn’t disappointed. The woody notes in the Maker’s Mark 46 really popped here, and all the burn was mellowed by the sugar and bitters.

One thing I appreciate about this design is that the majority of the bottle is open clear glass. The normal Maker’s Mark bottle is mostly wrapped in paper, but in this case the deep amber color of the liquid inside is on full display. And it looks great. Moderate mouthfeel, sweet caramel and honey. I like how diverse the palate is - from notes of marshmallow, pepper, a touch of tobacco. Not too sweet, not too savory, not too peppery. The Maker’s Mark 46 bottle surely draws inspiration from its sister bourbon, Maker’s Mark. Margie’s design of the ‘S’ for Samuels and ‘IV’ for the fourth generation distiller that Bill Samuels Sr. believed he was is present on this bottle as well. This is how Maker's 46 release should be - I find none of the gritty, aluminum, aspartame notes from the standard 46 release, and this is a winner.It is an excellent introduction to bourbon for someone who wants to explore it American bourbon more broadly. Maker’s 46 Bourbon The only thing missing is a bit of sweetness. There’s not really much inherent sweetness in the spirit so a bit of simple sugar or a well doused cube of sugar would go a long way. Fizz (Mule) The next step was marketing, which Samuels handed off to his wife Margie. She used the “maker’s marks” that pewter whitesmiths put on their best work as inspiration. Excerpt: I find none of the gritty, aluminum, aspartame notes from the standard 46 release, and this is a winner.

According to the label on the Maker’s Mark bottle, Bill Samuels Senior wanted to create a bourbon that was soft, creamy, and full-bodied. The palate is very smooth with more caramel and now vanilla. It is softer than the nose with a really nice roundness as far as texture goes. The finish of this bourbon is just as soft as the palate is and very smooth. There is no burn in this bourbon. When Bill Samuels Senior set out to make a soft bourbon, he certainly succeeded, in my opinion!Excerpt: I feel that detail was missed when crafting this batch. It could make a reasonable mixer with its bold cinnamon notes and heat, but I would not recommend it as a daily or even special occasion sipper. Whitesmiths are people who work with tin and metal to create tools, pewter simply indicates the specific metal these craftsmen use.) For this reason, she also chose to name her husband’s new bourbon Maker’s Mark. And of course, the bottle is sealed with that iconic red wax as well, the company does that with all their bottles, no matter the series. Maker’s Mark is going to be creamy, smooth, and soft with hints of vanilla, oak, tobacco, and caramel. Now we get to the distillation process! Maker’s Mark double-distills their bourbon in copper stills. Meanwhile, somewhere outdoors, their virgin American oak barrels are being aired out or “seasoned” for at least nine months to remove bitter-causing tannins that often happen in young wood. (Those bitter tannins can also make the whiskey bitter as it is aged.)