Maker's Mark

The Fourth of July weekend put us in the mood to do something festive, and so we drove about 70 minutes south to learn a little bit more about Kentucky bourbon. Maker's Mark, we have told ourselves, is the final local distillery that we have any interest in touring (this statement is subject to change depending on our boredom and the weather).

The drive there was like a line out of the national anthem. More remote and less polished than the millionaire horse estates around Frankfort, undulating roads flow through farmland in the hilly Knobs region. It's the kind of area where the narrow roads are named after local families; where you have to slow down and squeeze towards the edge on the rare occasion that a tractor approaches from the other direction.

The country feeling didn't leave even as we pulled into the parking lot, into what just as well could've been a country club or a very lucky derby gambler.

Tickets are $12 per adult and are purchased in the glass-paneled greenhouse. Connected to it is homey waiting area with its air conditioning on full throttle.

The tour began with in the stillhouse, where the combination of grains (mash) is cooked and distilled. Before entering, the tour guide advised us to step outside if we couldn't take the heat. It was uncomfortable inside, sweat-bead-dripping-down-your-back kind of hot. Our guide's explanations were short, probably for our sake. She quickly showed us the column stills, shiny copper vats and let us dip our finger in to try some hours old mash.

Below, the mash was about a day's old. The fresh one we tried just tasted grainy, not yet fizzy and tangy like once it's aged a bit more.

Walking back out into the glorious 90 degree summer day was immensely refreshing. It was easier to appreciate this building's charm from outside. Maybe it's hard to tell in this photo, but in the center of each red shutter, there is a blank space in the same distinctive shape as the Maker's Mark bottle.

We peeked at their printing press which is over 80 years old. They still use it to die cut the Marker's Mark labels.

We learned a bit about Maker's Private Select, which is Maker's Mark bourbon with a customized epilogue. The bourbon is made as usual, but then the DIY part comes in. Ten oak staves are inserted into the barrel, separated to maximize contact with the bourbon. Each stave can be one of five different flavor profiles (like "Roasted French Mocha"). The bourbon is aged about ten weeks longer with these added influencers, adding a unique twist to the tongue. This is how Maker's 46 is made also (the 46th combination tried was a hit!).

Anyone can make their own Private Select, but obviously it's a bit pricey. Organizations  can also make it, so if you walk into a store of the local chain Liquor Barn, you may find bottles of Maker's Private Select created just for their stores to carry.

A newly constructed cellar houses these extra-staved barrels, built into the side of a hill. The same limestone that makes great bourbon and strong horses provides a natural (and wonderful) chill.

Below is a peek into the exclusive tasting room for Private Select creators.

Even though Maker's Mark is not our favorite bourbon, something about the brand is unique and admirable. On this tour, the most interesting thing to me was putting a name to what sets Maker's Mark apart: Margie Mattingly Samuels.






























It was Margie's husband who perfected his family's mash bill, but it was Margie who made the brand. She came up with the name and the signature red wax on each bottle. She had a keen eye for the arts and branding, and it seems like her legacy is continued through witty ads and an appreciation for modern creators. Throughout the buildings, pieces by various artists were on display, and a current exhibition by a glass sculptor features huge, intricately arranged shards of glass breaking through the grounds like some alien flora.

 One final stop which could never be forgotten: the taste testing.

To us, Maker's 46 was the highlight, more enjoyable than the Bill Jr. Private Select and the cask strength 46 also sampled. Maker's White Dog (only sold at the distillery) was surprisingly smooth for something so strong.

We exited the tasting room, picked up a bourbon ball or two and the tour wrapped up in this beautiful barrel-filled hallway. A door opened up, and miraculously we spilled out into the gift shop. The perfect exit for buzzed tourists to make impulse buys.

We made it out empty handed, but appreciated the styles and options available. One popular purchase is to buy a bottle of Maker's and dip it in the red wax yourself. There is an assortment of other wax-dipped things too - glasses, mugs, cell phone stands.

Besides the tour, the landscape of Maker's Mark is beautiful just to wander about. We saw several people walking their dogs (which are not allowed on tours), sitting in the grass beneath trees and eating lunch at the on-site restaurant.

It was a perfectly laid-back afternoon excursion, and another notch in our bourbon belt I guess.