🥃 Maker's Mark 46
Maker's Mark 46 is fully matured Maker's Mark finished in a barrel with ten toasted French oak staves; 47% ABV (94 proof) per Difford's Guide. More oak than Classic, no age statement. The producer's page gives two ABV figures.
What is the “46” in Maker's Mark 46? It is a bourbon in which fully matured Maker's Mark is finished once more in a barrel with inserted staves. According to Difford's Guide, it is 47% ABV (94 proof), with no age statement. It is the distillery's first new expression after the core Maker's Mark; the taste is usually described as toasted oak, caramel and baking spices.
Cooper Brad Boswell proposed inserting toasted French oak staves into an ordinary barrel. The producer speaks of ten staves, and the bourbon returned to the barrel matures for a further few months; Difford's Guide says two to three. The number 46 is the number of the trial toasting profile. The base is the same: a wheated mash and oak barrels, so it remains a bourbon.
Why this matters to you. The 46 is stronger and more oaky than Maker's Mark Classic: it is not older, but finished differently. The producer's page gives two different ABV figures for it, so check the number on the bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Legal basis | USA: 27 CFR § 5.143 (bourbon: at least 51% corn, new charred oak barrels) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Maker's Mark mash: corn, red winter wheat, malted barley |
| Cask type | Maker's Mark barrel with ten toasted French oak staves |
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; finishing after full maturation |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 47% ABV (94 proof) per Difford's Guide |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Maker's Mark 46 → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🐝 French oak, 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Maker's Mark, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Maker's Mark 101, 🥃 Maker's Mark 101, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic, 🥃 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Frequently asked questions
What makes it a bourbon under US rules?
The page cites 27 CFR § 5.143: at least 51% corn and new charred oak barrels. The mash here is corn, red winter wheat and malted barley.
How does it compare with another Kentucky bourbon finished in an extra barrel?
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is also a Kentucky bourbon finished in an extra barrel; this one is finished with ten toasted French oak staves.
How strong is it and what does proof mean?
47% ABV, or 94 proof in the US system where proof is twice the percentage; the producer's page also gives 45%.
Is it older than the Classic?
No. It is fully matured Maker's Mark finished again with staves, not an older whisky; there is no age statement.
What does the 46 mean?
It is the number of the trial toasting profile, according to Difford's Guide.
What to read next
- 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength — Maker's Mark Cask Strength is barrel-proof Maker's Mark bottled undiluted: 107–114 proof (about 53.5–57% ABV) depending on the batch, aged at least seven years, in small batches of around 24 barrels.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Maker's Mark 101 — Maker's Mark 101 is the classic Maker's Mark recipe bottled at 101 proof, about 50.5% ABV, fuller than Classic. The producer's page lists it as a limited release, so availability depends on the market.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Maker's Mark 101 · 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength · 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic · 🥃 Four Roses Bourbon · 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch · 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch Select
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Maker's Mark: Maker's 46 (fully matured Maker's Mark finished with ten seared French oak staves; limestone cellar)
- Difford's Guide: Maker's 46 Bourbon (47 % ABV, 94 proof; seared French white oak staves; name from trial profile no. 46)
- Difford's Guide: Maker's Mark Distillery (70 % corn, 16 % soft red winter wheat, 14 % malted barley; 6 to 7,5 years; Maker's 46)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)