Today seems as good a day as any to return to the Maker’s Mark Private Selection / Wood Finishing Series. When my wife and I visited the distillery in April, we picked up the previously reviewed Panna Cotta Private Selection, as well as today’s Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. The way they make these releases is by taking the fully aged standard Maker’s Mark, then choosing a variety of 10 staves to place inside a barrel for additional aging for 6 or more months in their cellar, a partially underground place where the temperatures don’t get very warm, so you are far more likely to get some of the surface level flavors of the extra wood staves, rather than making a bourbon “extra oaky.” This release gets 5 Baked American Pure, 4 Seared French Cuvée, and 1 Roasted French Mendiant stave. The bottle was dated April 2024, although I don’t know if that was barreling date or bottling date; the whisky clocks in at 108.6 proof, or 54.3% ABV.
Sadly, I waited until I was nearly through with the bottle before getting around to reviewing this one. I had meant to do so shortly after cracking it open in the spring, but time slips away and life got much busier than I thought it would. What would you expect to smell from this one when you first bring it to your nose? Apples? No…really, it was a pure, strong vanilla note, backed up with some caramelized sugar and just the slightest bit of oak.
On the tip of my tongue the cheesecake note came to life, too…it was sweet and creamy, with the vanilla prominent along with those caramel note. There was even a hint (power of suggestion?) of graham cracker on the back end that completed the illusion of a fine cheesecake. Maker’s Mark isn’t known for its alcohol burn, but at 108.6 proof, there’s no mistaking that it does have a little fire.
In a little over a month from the time I write this, we are headed back to Kentucky and will be visiting Maker’s Mark again. If they have Panna Cotta, we’ve already agreed to buy a bottle or two of it. If they have the Keeper’s Release, I’m buying a bottle of that. And I really wouldn’t mind picking up another bottle of this, either. It’s amazing how all the Private Selection and Wood Finishing Series releases can be so different, but they are nearly all so delightful. Helps when you’re starting with one of the best bourbons made, I guess.
