Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Maker's Mark 46

Steady Neddy

3 788

@OdysseusUnboundReview by @OdysseusUnbound

25th Mar 2020

0

Maker's Mark 46
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    88

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

There's something to be said for consistency. Novelty may be more thrilling, but this excitement is always short-lived. The whisky industry seems to worship "innovation" even when it adds nothing of value. Sales can always be higher and everyone wants to be the first to put out that new and exciting expression on the market. "Double Oak", how about "Triple Oak" or "Seven Oak"? Why finish a whisky in one wine cask when we can use 5 different wine casks? Ok, I'm being facetious. While there's nothing wrong with legitimate innovation, producing reliably good whisky seems to be passé, predictable, unexciting even.

Quietly making good whisky seems to be the spirits industry's equivalent of Ned Flanders asking for a "a piece of plain white bread with a glass of water on the side, for dippin'!" Yet not every distillery is jumping on the "put out a new limited edition whisky every other week" bandwagon. Maker's 46 was released in 2010, and it was the first widely-available variation on Maker's Mark since the distillery launched production in 1953.

Tasting notes

  • Nose: oak-forward, vanilla, candy corn, caramel, brown sugar, cherries, cinnamon
  • Palate: rich mouthfeel, oaky, brown sugar, vanilla, a hint of Juicy Fruit gum, a little citrus
  • Finish: long, with coconut, caramel, and a bit of a dark chocolate-mocha note, plenty of oak lingering

What was interesting to me was how consistent this was from the first sip to the last drop. I'm not referring to a single glass, but rather the bottle of Maker's 46. Many bourbons (and whiskies in general) seem to evolve over time as the fill level of the bottle changes. Maker's 46 did not. Now that's not a negative thing as I really enjoyed this Maker's with the oak turned up to eleven. Don't get me wrong, there are other flavours and the balance is interesting but it does lean heavily on oak notes. If you don't like oaky bourbons, this isn't the droid, er the bourbon you're looking for.

This doesn't feel like a radical change from bourbon, but context is everything. This is different for Maker's Mark. It's kind of like when Ned Flanders was perceived as a rebel for refusing to shave "the old soup-strainer" when he moved to Humbleton, Pennsylvania. Flanders wasn't really "bad company", but the perception of his do-gooder personality had shifted. If you enjoy Maker's Mark, there's a good chance you'll enjoy Maker's 46. If you find standard Maker's a little tame, you might like this oakier iteration. It's fairly-priced in most areas and it's worth your time.

  • Would I accept a glass if it were offered? Yes
  • Would I order this in a bar or pub? Yes
  • Would I purchase another bottle? Probably.

Related Maker's Mark reviews

7 comments

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Nice review. Reliable. That sounds like something we need right now. I'm looking forward to trying it.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

Jonathan commented

I like th3 46 much better than regular Maker's. It has much stronger flavors. I'd like to try the Maker's CS at some point. (At some point..) Thank you for posting the review.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@OdysseusUnbound Any idea why they spell whisky without the “e” ? I thought all American whiskey was spelled with an “e”.

4 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@BlueNote there is no binding law or binding tradition within the United States on how to spell the word whisk(e)y. Each distiller is legally and culturally free to do exactly as s/he pleases in this regard. Maker's Mark distillery, George Dickel distillery, Catoctin Creek distillery, and others omit the "e". In the USA the spelling of the word whisky/whiskey is not considered by most people to be a subject worthy of getting excited about. I have never heard or read a single American other than in an online whisk(e)y forum show the slightest concern as to how the word is spelled, and what significance, if any, that spelling may have.

Do I get excited about the spelling of the word? No. Why? Because I am more interested in promoting freedom and creativity than I am in promoting restriction to the traditions of the past.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@Victor Ask Americans if Jack Daniel’s is bourbon though, and you’ll see some people get incredibly angry in record time. stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@OdysseusUnbound how many angels fit onto the head of a pin?

Is it more virtuous to ponder the specifics of conventions of meanings or is it more virtuous to ponder the specifics of conventions of spellings?

How I see this: those who have the luxury to invest energy in any of these issues have a lot of luxury and ease in their lives. I am all for prosperity and ease, but I do think that there are more important issues to which to devote one's attention.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@Victor Thanks for the explanation. I doubt that the Scotch Whisky dictators would allow any such departure from their very strict rules. But yes, I agree, these things are hardly worth worrying about given the genuinely worrisome things going on these days.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?