Maker's 46 (750 ml)

Maker's Mark 46 represents a deliberate departure from the distillery's flagship wheated bourbon. In 2010, Maker's Mark introduced this expression by finishing its standard bourbon in new charred French oak staves inserted into the barrel during the final maturation phase—a technique that bypasses full cask replacement while intensifying oak extraction.

The whisky originates from Loretto, Kentucky, home to Maker's Mark's limestone-filtered water source and aging warehouses. The base spirit follows Maker's Mark's signature wheated mashbill (corn, wheat, barley malt), but the French oak finishing adds pronounced vanilla, caramel, and spice layers absent from the original.

Production specifics: The base bourbon matures in standard charred American oak before French oak staves are introduced for an additional finishing period. This hybrid approach preserves the wheated bourbon's soft mouthfeel while layering oak-driven complexity. The result carries 94 proof (47% ABV).

Special feature: The French oak stave finishing—rather than full cask maturation—allows Maker's Mark to control oak intensity with surgical precision, creating a bridge between the wheated bourbon's accessibility and single-barrel intensity.

Optimal drinking window: 2015–present. No vintage variation; consistent production since 2010.