Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series The Keepers Release

Product Description

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series: The Keepers Release, Finished with Ten Virgin Toasted Oak Staves

The Keepers Release is the second of five releases in Maker’s Mark’s second Wood Finishing Series, which runs through 2028. It’s a tribute to the warehouse team at Star Hill Farm, the “keepers” who oversee the whisky from the moment it enters the barrel through more than six years of aging. They hand-rotate each barrel from the top to the bottom of the warehouses and work through the winters and summers to make sure every barrel matures to the founders’ taste vision. Maker’s Mark worked closely with them on the stave profile.

The release starts with fully matured, cask-strength Maker’s Mark, the brand’s handmade wheated bourbon (70% corn, 16% red winter wheat, 14% malted barley). It’s then finished with ten virgin toasted oak staves placed in the barrel, in the distillery’s limestone cellar, for a secondary maturation. Reviewers report two stave profiles, finished for five and nine weeks. It’s bottled at 109.2 proof (54.6% ABV), non-chill filtered, with a suggested price of $74.99. The brand says this release delivers rich, oak-forward aromas and a long, enveloping finish.

What’s in the Bottle

• Kentucky straight bourbon, wheated mash bill (70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley)
• Cask-strength Maker’s Mark, aged 6+ years, finished with 10 virgin toasted oak staves
• 109.2 proof (54.6% ABV)
• Maker’s Mark, Loretto, Kentucky; limited release, 2 of 5 in Series 2

Tasting Notes

From Maker’s Mark’s own notes.

Aroma: Seasoned oak, brûléed sugar, and tobacco.

Palate: Bold, toasted oak with subtle sweetness.

Finish: Long and enveloping, with dried dark fruit and roasted sweetness.

Food Pairings

The oak, dark fruit, and roasted sweetness pair well with smoked brisket, grilled steak, and aged cheddar. It also goes with dark chocolate, pecan pie, and a good cigar.

Serving Suggestions

Sip it neat, with a few drops of water to open the aromas. It’s a limited release, best enjoyed slowly from a Glencairn glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is it? 109.2 proof (54.6% ABV).

Who is it inspired by? The warehouse team, who rotate every barrel.

How is it finished? Ten virgin toasted oak staves in the limestone cellar.

Is it chill-filtered? No.

Is it wheated? Yes, 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley.

Is it limited? Yes, it’s one of five annual releases in the series.

Explore More

Browse our Maker’s Mark collection, Bourbon collection, or Whiskey collection, or try the next release, the Wood Finishing Series Stewards Release.

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