Makers Mark

COLOR

Ideal:
Rich and brilliant – see-through amber, but with a flame orange glint that tells of the warmth to come.

Traits of Imperfection:
A pale and straw-like appearance, light amber (indicating improper or insufficient warehouse aging and/or heavy treatment with activated carbon during filtering just prior to bottling in an attempt to remove unwanted characteristics caused by poor fermentation or distillation). A deep, dark amber (indicating excessive barrel aging).

Evaluation Procedure:
We recommend that you do not reduce proof for this evaluation. Pour one ounce of each whisky to be evaluated into its assigned tasting glass. Hold up to bright light – sunlight is preferred – and evaluate.

BOUQUET

Ideal:
Full, yet delicate; well-rounded; possessing a distinctive caramel aroma of the charred oak with a hint of vanilla; pleasant and inviting.

Traits of Imperfection:
Rough and somewhat coarse, raw, not unlike rubbing alcohol. A sweetness of cooked grain (indicating improper warehouse aging). A perfume-like fragrance. Flat and thin; uninteresting and non-aromatic (indicating improper or insufficient warehouse aging and/or heavy treatment with activated carbon during filtering just prior to bottling in an attempt to remove unwanted characteristics caused by poor fermentation or distillation). A strong caramel dominance; out of balance and with a detectable aroma of burnt wood chips (indicating excessive barrel aging).

Evaluation Procedure:
Begin by cupping one of the glasses in your hand for approximately one full minute so the whisky has warmed to room temperature. Then swirl so as to gently coat the inside of the tasting glass wall. Allow your nose down into the glass and take a rather full inhale.

FLAVOR

Ideal:
It would be presumptuous on our part to suggest what the ideal flavor should be, even though you can be sure we at Maker’s Mark have a rather strongly held opinion on the subject. On the other hand, we all agree that a truly great bourbon must be:

Rich in flavor, yet soft on the palate.

Distinctive and complex, yet possess the refinement and balance found in a finely crafted malt or cognac.

Refreshing and pleasant.

And the enjoyment is always an experience of the total. 

-From the producer