review

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Review

I remember receiving a sample of the first release of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged last fall, and I absolutely loved it. It was the oldest expression released by the distillery. Fast forward to the beginning of September 2024. Maker’s agency on record reached out with an enticing offer – the chance to join a press trip to the distillery to celebrate the 2024 release of their premium Cellar Aged whisky. I was so pumped to go, going as far as tasting through all of the distillery’s releases I have at the house to refamiliarize myself with different takes on their flavor profile before I was to fly out.

Then Mother Nature decided to intervene. Hurricane Francine was set to strike the New Orleans metro area the day I was supposed to fly out to Kentucky. Hence, the trip didn’t happen. This isn’t a woe is me situation. After the storm, I was a part of our work’s Storm Response Team, providing fresh hot pizzas straight out of our pizza oven to first responders and those in need. As much fun as the Maker’s trip would have been, the couple of days of giving back to the community after a disaster proved to be much more fulfilling.

So, after a few days, the agency was gracious enough to send over a sample for my review. And with that, here we are, with my first full review in ten months.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 is a blend of 15% Maker’s Mark 12-year-old and 85% Maker’s Mark 13-year-old, at 59.7% ABV or 119.3 Proof. The standard Maker’s has no age statement, though it’s rumored to be between 6-8 years old.

“Delivering an elevated expression that’s distinctly Maker’s Mark, Cellar Aged finishes maturation in our LEED-certified cellar, built into the limestone shelf that surrounds us, creating a richer, deeper and more complex bourbon, free from the harsher tannic effects commonly found in older American whiskies,” said Dr. Blake Layfield, Head of Innovation and Blending, Maker’s Mark.

In other words, fully aged barrels of Maker’s are then brought into their cool cellar, which slows down the aging process. This allows the release of 12- and 13-year old bourbon without an overpowering oak profile or it being overly tannic.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 starts off with slightly burnt sugar, buttered pecans, and a touch of lemon zest on the nose. There’s feint oak there, but you really have to concentrate to find it. The palate is quintessential Maker’s DNA with added depth, featuring vanilla macaron, some dark fruits, and some baking spices. It doesn’t drink like its high proof. No water required. The finish is warm, with just the slightest hint of oak.

This is a polished, approachable, more complex version of Maker’s Mark. The baking spices and oak don’t feel added on like some of their Private Select picks, but instead come across as beautifully integrated. This is an easy recommendation for the suggested retail price of $174.99.

Thanks to Maker’s Mark for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey

Recently, Heaven Hill Distillery added a new whiskey to its Elijah Craig lineup – a straight rye whiskey. Like its small batch bourbon sibling, the new rye whiskey is bottled at 94 proof. The mash bill used here is 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley.

My excitement for news of a brand extension is always met with a bit of anxiousness. That’s especially true here. After all, Elijah Craig bourbon, in both its small batch and barrel proof forms, is some of the highest caliber whiskey consumers can easily obtain, especially given its value for money. By the way, this new rye whiskey has a suggested retail price of $29.99. It fits right in price-wise, but how does it taste?

The nose features hints of toasted rye grain, maple syrup, vanilla, and spice. Taste-wise, the new rye whiskey offers a wonderfully delightful exhibition of sweet and spicy. Sharp rye notes complement vanilla cake. Layers of baking spice quickly develop, leading to honey and dried fruit. The finish turns a touch dry with a lingering sweet oak note.

Like the other Elijah Craig expressions, this new rye whiskey offers tons of flavor for a reasonable price. But put the cost aside for a moment. This is delicious. It drinks as easily as Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, but doesn’t carry over the big oaky notes. That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news is that this fantastic rye whiskey is only launching in four markets – North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Oregon. It’ll take some time to spread to the rest of the country. Patience is a virtue, unless you can find a mule from one of the aforementioned markets to snag a bottle for you.

Elijahcraig.com

Thanks to Heaven Hill for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 021

Barrell Bourbon batch 021 comes to us as a blend of 10-14-year-old straight bourbon whiskies distilled and aged in Tennessee and Kentucky. The 10-year-old barrels used in this batch featured an oak-forward character. Eighteen 14-year-old barrels were added to bring a bit of balance to the final blend. The resulting batch comes in at 106.34 proof (53.17% abv).

The nose starts with a big butterscotch note soon accompanied by hints of English breakfast tea, spice, and ripe berries, with a tinge of lemon peel. It’s deep but lively. On the palate, dark berries mingle with vanilla and molasses. Spices build but don’t overpower. The long, dry finish features oak tannins, leather, and dried fruit.

The webpage for this batch mentions it’s a “wonderfully autumnal bourbon, built on a dry toasty backbone with hints of butter and fruit layered in for complexity and contrast.” The description is spot on. I can easily imagine sipping on this batch of Barrell Bourbon in front of a fire on a cool night. It feels like it was designed for precisely this time of year. Another appetizing release from the meticulous minds at Barrell Craft Spirits. Highly recommended.

Barrellbourbon.com

Thanks to Barrell Craft Spirits for the production sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.