The red wax of Maker’s Mark is what people recognize. The hand dipped red wax that drips down the bottle’s neck leaves each bottle imprinted with its own unique identity on the outside of the bottle. The Maker’s Mark Private Select program allows you to imprint your own unique identity and taste profile on the bourbon inside.
In early June, the Table & Vine and Center Square Grill team journeyed down to Loretto, Kentucky, to do just this. Using Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon as our base, we infused a variety of different wood finishing staves for flavor, creating two uniquely amazing flavor profiles. We then filled our barrels and let them rest for 9 weeks. The finished product… our perfect versions of Maker’s Mark bourbon. We hope you like it as much as we do!
We first tasted through and picked the first barrel – the Table & Vine Private Select Markers Mark. This barrel was infused with the same stave collaboration as last year: Four Roasted French Mocha staves, Four Maker’s 46 staves and Two seared French Cuvee staves. This was one of the most popular barrels we ever had and we wanted to replicate it as best we could. We decided, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it! This year’s offering was bottled at 109.7 proof, 54.85% ABV.
Nose: A Caramel Drizzle over Chocolate, Pecans and Almond. (I wish we could make a scented candle of this bourbon!)
Palate: Good Viscosity, Semi Sweet/Dry Dark Chocolate notes transition into a creamy, sweet caramel center.
Finish: Front of Palate finish, very faint spice transitions in to lengthy, lingering cocoa notes.
This Bourbon is what drinking your Dessert in Winter is all about!
Beautiful, Elegant, Sweet and Warming.
Purchase this bottle right here, right now.
This second barrel was designed in collaboration with our friends at Center Square Grill. It was also designed to illustrate the varying impact of different stave collaborations and set itself apart from our initial recipe. Our initial barrel needed a sibling not a clone!
This particular barrel had a very different stave composition. It was made up of: Three Baked American Pure Two staves, Three Seared French Cuvee staves, Three Maker’s 46 staves, and OneToasted French Spice stave. This offering was bottled at 109.6 proof/ 54.8% ABV.
Nose: Bright Dried Fruit, Rich Woodiness, and Vanilla Sweetness
Palate: “Sweet Heat” with hefty Spice. Slightly dry. A definite palate warmer!
Finish: Front of palate finish. Sweetness mingles with polarizing spice and ends abruptly leaving the mouthwatering!
Purchase this bottle right here, right now.
I will definitely try this in Egg Nog this holiday season!
~ Andrew Desrochers
Table & Vine Liquor Manager
