Click here for a copy of the report.

After the two year period was complete we blended most of the whiskey into our inventory but saved two barrels as "Reserve stock." We presented this unique opportunity to Ace Spirits who selected one of the two barrels.

This Hybrid barrel contains American oak, French Oak, and Eastern European Oak from Slovakia. All were charred and toasted at medium (#3) levels.

Our experience from tasting the different barrels was that the American Oak, our standard, had the highest vanillin development resulting in a more typical American sweet profile, The French and Eastern Euro Oaks were significantly drier and much higher in tannin levels. And the Hybrid did the best job of introducing more tannin, but balancing with the vanillin profile. Way higher oak flavors, but not to the point of eliminating the vanilla content compared to American Oak.

This particular barrel Hybrid 1, was one of two filled on 8/9/11. The barrel was dumped and bottled just prior to shipping to Ace Spirits in May 2015."">

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Stave Configuration: (0-P2, 0-CU, 10-46, 0-MO, 0-SP)

Maker's 46 is created by taking fully matured Maker's Mark bourbon and placing it in a barrel with ten charred wooden staves (all 46) in it to create more wood influence, more caramel, more... YUM. The whisky is then aged in these modified barrels for an additional three months to maximize the flavor impact of the staves. We love Maker's 46 and so when the opportunity arose to create our own private barrel, we jumped at it. Here's how it works:

in 2017, the folks at Maker's worked with Independent Stave (one of the largest cooperages in the world) to create four new stave types to add to the existing Maker's 46 stave, for a total of five possible staves to fill ten stave positions:

Baked American Pure 2 (P2)

Seared French Cuvee (CU)

Maker's 46 (46)

Roasted French Mocha (MO)

Toasted French Spice (SP)

By arranging these staves in different configurations, you could develop up to 1,001 different whisky variants. We've done a few of these Private Select barrels, and we've been able to craft dramatically different whiskies using different stave configurations.

During a lunch break on our first trip, I saw a bottle of Maker's 46 Cask Strength for sale in the gift shop and inquired- would it be possible to make a barrel using ONLY the Maker’s 46 staves? Since it was to be bottled at barrel proof, this would essentially be Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength Bourbon!!!??? The answer was yes. In fact, at the time, that gift shop bottling was the only way you could get Maker's 46 Cask Strength- a distillery only release made at the direction of Bill Samuels Jr. himself!

I'm pleased to offer you, for the first time outside of the distillery, Maker's Mark Cask Strength!">

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Ace Spirits Winner's Cuvee

Crafted with the winners of our Private Select contest, Katie & Matt L!

Stave Configuration: (3-P2, 4-CU, 2-46, 0-MO, 1-SP)

Tasting Notes:

Nose: allspice, light cinnamon, oak, pencil shavings, vanilla and caramel.

Gullet: spice box and toasted oak, with loads of vanilla and caramel.

Finish: boom.

Maker's 46 is created by taking fully matured Maker's Mark bourbon and placing it in a barrel with ten charred wooden staves (all 46) in it to create more wood influence, more caramel, more... YUM. The whisky is then aged in these modified barrels for an additional three months to maximize the flavor impact of the staves. We love Maker's 46 and so when the opportunity arose to create our own private barrel, we jumped at it. Here's how it works:

in 2017, the folks at Maker's worked with Independent Stave (one of the largest cooperages in the world) to create four new stave types to add to the existing Maker's 46 stave, for a total of five possible staves to fill ten stave positions:

Baked American Pure 2 (P2)

Seared French Cuvee (CU)

Maker's 46 (46)

Roasted French Mocha (MO)

Toasted French Spice (SP)

By arranging these staves in different configurations, you could develop up to 1,001 different whisky variants. We've done a few of these Private Select barrels, and we've been able to craft dramatically different whiskies using different stave configurations.">

blog post for more detail!

A Special Three Pack of our 2018 Private Selections:

Ace Spirits Winner's Cuvee (3-P2, 4-CU, 2-46, 0-MO, 1-SP)

JohnBro's Cozy Winter Warmer (3-P2, 1-CU, 2-46, 4-MO, 0-SP)

Maker's 46 Cask Strength (0-P2, 0-CU, 10-46, 0-MO, 0-SP)

Maker's 46 is created by taking fully matured Maker's Mark bourbon and placing it in a barrel with ten charred wooden staves (all 46) in it to create more wood influence, more caramel, more... YUM. The whisky is then aged in these modified barrels for an additional three months to maximize the flavor impact of the staves. We love Maker's 46 and so when the opportunity arose to create our own private barrel, we jumped at it. Here's how it works:

in 2017, the folks at Maker's worked with Independent Stave (one of the largest cooperages in the world) to create four new stave types to add to the existing Maker's 46 stave, for a total of five possible staves to fill ten stave positions:

Baked American Pure 2 (P2)

Seared French Cuvee (CU)

Maker's 46 (46)

Roasted French Mocha (MO)

Toasted French Spice (SP)

By arranging these staves in different configurations, you could develop up to 1,001 different whisky variants. We've done a few of these Private Select barrels, and we've been able to craft dramatically different whiskies using different stave configurations.">

blog post for more detail!

JohnBro's Cozy Winter Warmer

Stave Configuration: (3-P2, 1-CU, 2-46, 4-MO, 0-SP)

Tasting Notes:

Nose: fresh hay, oak spice, toasted wood

Gullet: mellow and "cozy", rich & viscous, toasted almonds, chocolate, fresh ground coffee

Finish: lingering, sweet, oak spice, vanilla

Maker's 46 is created by taking fully matured Maker's Mark bourbon and placing it in a barrel with ten charred wooden staves (all 46) in it to create more wood influence, more caramel, more... YUM. The whisky is then aged in these modified barrels for an additional three months to maximize the flavor impact of the staves. We love Maker's 46 and so when the opportunity arose to create our own private barrel, we jumped at it. Here's how it works:

in 2017, the folks at Maker's worked with Independent Stave (one of the largest cooperages in the world) to create four new stave types to add to the existing Maker's 46 stave, for a total of five possible staves to fill ten stave positions:

Baked American Pure 2 (P2)

Seared French Cuvee (CU)

Maker's 46 (46)

Roasted French Mocha (MO)

Toasted French Spice (SP)

By arranging these staves in different configurations, you could develop up to 1,001 different whisky variants. We've done a few of these Private Select barrels, and we've been able to craft dramatically different whiskies using different stave configurations.">

This limited edition bottling is drawn from a single first fill ex-Bourbon cask of unrivalled distinction. Hand-picked by Ace Spirits and Pulteney Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring and matured at the distillery since 2004, this exceptional whisky embodies the richness and charisma of its coastal home. It is little wonder that Old Pulteney is known as 'The Maritime Malt'.">

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visited the distillery, fell in love, and just had to score one of these sought after barrels.">