- Lance Mayhew, Oregon Culinary Institute">

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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.">

Highlighted by light aromas of dried mango, cocoa, fruit and spiced peach. Flavors of honey, oak and tobacco dance on the pallet. The finish is balanced and dry, with a lingering tingle.">