Maker's Mark Cellar Aged (2023 Release)

Oh boy. Ever since Cellar Aged was announced, I searched every bar I could find, high and low for a taste. I couldn't justify the prices this bottle was going for in my area. Alas, that taste was never to be. And then I got a notification from a global whiskey distributor that they had bottles available for about $200 less than market value local to me. Yes, that still makes this a ridiculously pricey bottle... but I gave in. After all, I'm a bit of a Maker's Mark fanboy having previously collected every edition of their now defunct Wood Finishing Series. The nose is quite heavenly. It reminds me of the first time I caught a whiff of RC6 and realized that Maker's Mark could be so much more than Maker's 46. It's bold from the proof but deliciously sweet. Caramel syrup drizzled over Monkey Bread ( do you remember eating this as a kid? ). Maple Syrup and vanilla bean carry the sweet nose but wait.... do I detect some spiciness? Besides the cinnamon from the Monkey Bread, some very faint baking spice hides somewhere behind all of the viscous sweet. That viscosity carries into the palate. First thing you notice is just how tongue coating and oily the mouth feel of this bourbon is. Delicious caramel syrup drapes that cinnamon sweet, sticky Monkey Bread on the nose. Dark cherries make an appearance somewhere mid palate and as the taste goes down, the back of the taste introduces some cinnamon spice to the party. Or perhaps it stuck around from the front of the taste to the back. As the finish comes on, that spice stays but ushers in drier flavors such as leather and charred oak. It's a long lasting finish with an emphasis on the sweet cinnamon heat that's stayed all the way from the nose to the tail end of the finish. Bravo to Maker's Mark for this one. Boo to all of the gougers who are selling this bottle for quadruple MSRP. If you get a chance to try this Bourbon, please do. You might think you know Maker's Mark, but this bottle will challenge that notion. A nearly perfect bourbon.

Clear rich mahogany color, akin to Pantone 153. Rich nose emits plums, a bit of raisin, chocolate covered cherries, sweet crème brûlée, toasted oak. I keep coming back to it: there’s some rich coffee underneath; a little bananas Foster. The aromas are deep and intense yet not overpowering, and alcohol is barely there. Not a lot of viscosity on the palate, which shows some toasted marshmallow and toasted oak, and the alcohol burn is apparent toward the end as it progresses toward the finish, which is long, and shows more toasted oak and vanilla. Maker’s Mark is doing great things. Beginning with Maker’s 46 a decade ago, and continuing with the various iterations of the wood-finished series, their Cellar Aged ups the ante even further. Maker’s has been known to bottle “to taste” rather than age; this bourbon does both, as it is a blend of 11- and 12-year old barrels. Maker’s Cellar Aged is warm and inviting in the best way. The warmth on the nose is not from heat, but rather to a certain smoothness and mellowness, like freshly baked spice cake. The intensity and sensory saturation is what makes this bourbon great. The nose has the kind of breadth and depth which I’ve only experienced a very small number of times, as with 2019 William Larue Weller. Would I buy it again? Yes. But I actually didn’t buy it this time—it was generously shared with me by my good friend @ataylor156. I’ve never been able to find it myself, and I believe he has found two bottles in two separate states! This is among the best bourbons I’ve ever had. 5.0 on the Distiller scale. 115.7 proof. Blend of 11-12 year-old barrels. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Since this was my last vacation evening in South Carolina, I decided to splurge a little. I originally wanted a pour of Old Fitz 10 year, but they were fresh out. The average on this peaked my interest, so i said what the hell! Let's just say, I didn't regret my decision one bit. Not only was this great, but my awesome waiter and manager decided to grant me another pour on the house! When I return to SC next year, I'll be sure to revisit this spot. Awesome selection and food. Onto the drink review. The nose on this was a superb combo of brown sugar, cherry, and baking spice. My first few sips were quite spicy, but in a good way. Cinnamon red hots candy to be exact. After settling, I was able to distinguish an enjoyable complex array of tasting notes. An herbal essence popped first with a side of caramel apple. The backbone had some cereal character to it. Towards the finish there was a delightful duo of leather and barrel char. All the while having a nice oily body/mouthfeel. This has got to be Maker's Mark top of the line because the bar was set high with this offering. I can only imagine what the price of a bottle would run a person. If you can find a pour/bottle I highly recommend giving it a whirl. Solid stuff indeed.

The nose is full of creamy oak, not over powering but just enough to be intoxicating. It is mixed with notes of ripe fruit, buttery vanilla and hints of leather and dried flowers. It does have the distinctive fruity notes of a wheated bourbon, but in a higher amount than you usually see. Everything is perfectly balanced and easy to get lost in. The palate is rich and smooth, with peppery spice hitting the corners of the mouth while vanilla and oak swirl all around the mouth. Chewing on it has you enjoying the fruity side to it while notes of mild baking spice keeps the mouth warm. Everything you picked up on the nose translates perfectly to the mouth. Some chocolate notes can be coaxed out of it as a welcome addition and overall, this delivers in every way you could imagine. The finish is medium long and very full, with vanilla and oak keeping you chewing, and just the right amount of spice to keep the mouth tingling just a bit. Everything else fades beautifully, this is a whiskey you really can't find anything wrong with. This is Maker's turned up to 11 and one of the absolute best wheated bourbons you can find.

Glad to have had to opportunity to purchase this bottle. Gladly cracking it after 2 long and shitty shifts #TGIFFORME. Tried neat. On the nares it smells sweet, fruity, and oaky with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, cherries, caramel, spice, pears, brown sugar, and peaches. On the palate its initially hot and spicy with notes of red hots, maraschino cherries, caramel, slight wood, vanilla, toast, char, cashews, almonds, slight cocoa bits, apple, vanilla cake. After a few more sips, and after 2 kentucky chews, it does get less hot, opens up, and not as numbing ha. This sh*t is delicious. Im going to come back to this on my next pour and add 3 drops of water and then a small ice cube after that. Very curious on how it will continue to open up!

Fantastic pour. Tried this side by side with some unreleased 12 year warehouse sample and found this more mellow with loads of dark fruit, molasses, cinnamon, and oak. Nose: Caramel, Cherries Jubilee, Honey, Vanilla, Pecans, Brown Sugar, Figs, Maple Syrup, Dates, Blackberries, Raspberries, Bananas, Cinnamon, Marshmallows, Bubble Gum, Strawberries, White Chocolate, Peaches Palate: Caramel, Root Beer, Raisins, Cherry Cola, Treacle, Walnuts, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Molasses, Ginger, Tobacco, Honey, Graham Crackers, Blackberries, Stewed Red Apples, Nutella, Blood Oranges Finish: Caramel, Honey, Oak, Cinnamon, Chili Peppers, Toffee, Bubble Gum, Tobacco, Raisins, Toasted Oak, Raspberries, Morello Cherries, Nutella, Molasses