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Maker’s Mark releases 2019 Wood Finishing Bourbon

Beam Suntory-owned Maker’s Mark has unveiled the first limited edition Bourbon in its Wood Finishing Series.

Maker’s Mark will release further limited edition Bourbons in the Wood Finishing Series

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6 is a cask strength variant of Maker’s Mark Bourbon finished with wood staves. It is bottled at 54.1% ABV.

The staves are said to “amplify notes of ripe fruit balanced with layers of baking spice” – a taste profile inspired by the yeast strain used to create Maker’s Mark.

This was achieved by finishing fully-matured, cask strength Maker’s Mark Bourbon in a second barrel with 10 ‘RC6’ wood staves. The barrels were then rested in the brand’s limestone Bourbon cellar.

Developed over two years in partnership with barrel producer Independent Stave Company, the RC6 staves were made from American oak that has first been exposed to the outdoors for an extended 18 months before being toasted in a convection oven.

It is the first limited edition release in the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, a range of expressions that use a “innovative” wood stave-finishing technique to “enhance distinctive characteristics” in the flagship Maker’s Mark Bourbon.

The new expression joins permanent bottlings Maker’s Mark 46 and Maker’s Mark Private Select in the collection, with additional limited edition Bourbons to be released in the coming years.

“We have been experimenting with wood-finishing staves and techniques since we first released Maker’s Mark 46 in 2010, and it never ceases to amaze me how much natural flavour we can extract from just 10 wood staves interacting with our Bourbon over a period of time,” said Jane Bowie, Maker’s Mark director of private select.

“Stave finishes allow us to innovate with an already delicious product in a purposeful fashion, exploring different wood types, seasoning periods, cook times and heat levels until we achieve the exact flavour vision we have in mind. We’re excited to share the distinct possibilities with whisky fans, starting with the 2019 Limited Release.”

Only 255 barrels of the limited edition Bourbon will be produced, with bottles available at select retail locations from late September. It is priced at US$59.99.

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