Maker's Mark Cask Strength Batch 20-02 (110.4 Proof)

MMCS 20-02/110.4 Proof- (On sale in NC this Sept for $40) NOSE: A little heat at first. Takes a while to open up to notes of Vanilla, Cinnamon, Buttered Wheat Toast, Hay and Old Barn Wood, and Cherry Cobbler. NEAT: Mouthfeel is a little thin but surprisingly clingy and coats very nicely with a Peppery Tingle. Enters with Cherry Coke, and Cinnamon Discs. You get Spicy Oak Mid-Palate. Black Coffee on the Finish. Nice growing KY Hug. An aftertaste of Slightly Bitter Oak, Medicinal Cherry and Cinnamon coat and layer the palate. SPLASH: A little water replaced the Cherry Coke with Brown Sugar. Tannins are a little more pronounced and the finish is a little spicier. Seems like it would do well with a large cube. Verdict: I don't turn to this one often due to its $50 price tag, but it is on sale for $40 this month at NC ABC's. I really disliked the new bottle when it was first introduced (and I still think it's a downgrade from the squat, fat embossed version it replaced) but it was starting to grow on me after seeing it in person. Alas, I pull the string under the wax to open it and find a *gasp* screw cap. Sigh. Oh, well. The contents (which is really all I should care about) of the bottle are very good. I like cask strength offerings that stay in the 110'ish range and allow you to enjoy them without much dilution. It's not a super complex offering, but the black coffee note was a new one for me from Maker's. At $40, I may buy a couple this month to keep in the bunker.

Carmel bomb! did not expect to like this, but, REALLY impressed the socks off me! Went from unopened, back of my bottom shelf bottle, to a bottle I can hardly wait to try again tomorrow. Truly shocked how good this first pour has been. Hope it holds up over time/across batches(if i get another one)

Bottle kill. This just got better and better as I moved through the bottle. Rich with brandied cherries, apricot, dried dark fruits, sweet and savory, wheat, chocolate, toffee, caramel, praline and baking spices, long finish with sweet and savory notes, baking spices, mild chocolate and vanilla.

Some nice notes of caramel, honey, cherry and grilled, buttery corn, but it’s a little disjointed and excessively hot which make it less enjoyable to me. Edit 8-14-22: Now half full/empty, the heat has dissipated, and the best notes are better integrated. Quite enjoyable. Bumped 1/2 point.

Nose- apple and butterscotch Body- a bit of a burn, apple but a little bitter Finish- dark chocolate Great nose but body was disappointing.

Definitely taste some cherry and vanilla. I like it, but don’t love it. My wife, who likes spicier and higher proof whiskeys, really liked it.