🥃 Maker's Mark
Maker's Mark is a Kentucky bourbon from Loretto, founded in 1953 by Bill Samuels Sr.: 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat, 14% malted barley, no rye; 45% ABV (90 proof); owned by Suntory Global Spirits.
Maker's Mark is the wheated bourbon with the red wax seal: a Kentucky bourbon from the town of Loretto, founded in 1953 by Bill Samuels Sr. The mash bill is 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat and 14% malted barley, with no rye. The classic version is 45% ABV (90 proof). Since 2024 the owner has been Suntory Global Spirits.
On 1 October 1953 Bill Samuels Sr. bought the Burks' Distillery in Loretto. Production began in 1954, and the first bottling took place in 1958 (one source gives 1959). The name and the red wax on the cork were the idea of his wife, Margie Samuels. The brand is spelled "whisky" (without an "e"), unlike many American producers. In 1980 the distillery was declared a US National Historic Landmark.
Ownership has changed several times: in 1981 the brand was bought by Hiram Walker. The later sequence is disputed: according to some sources it was Allied in 1987, according to others Seagram (with Allied only from 2001). In 2005 the owner became Fortune Brands, in 2014 Beam Suntory, and since 2024 Suntory Global Spirits. In 2013 the brand tried to lower the strength to 42% but reversed the decision.
Maturation lasts about six years with no age statement; barrels are moved between levels of the warehouse. Maker's 46 (47%) is finished in a barrel with ten seared staves of French oak from the Vosges. Cask Strength has been released since 2014, and the 101 since 2018.
Why this matters to you. Although Maker's Mark is softer than many bourbons thanks to the wheat, it is at least 45% ABV. Maker's 46 and Cask Strength differ considerably in taste and strength, so read the percentage. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1953, Bill Samuels Sr. (Loretto, Kentucky); production from 1954, first bottling in 1958 |
|---|---|
| Raw material | 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat, 14% malted barley; no rye |
| Cask type | charred oak barrels; for Maker's 46, 10 seared staves of French oak (Vosges) |
| Minimum maturation | about 6 years, no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 45% ABV (90 proof); Maker's 46 – 47% |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Maker's Mark → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Suntory Global Spirits
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🐝 American white oak
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky, 🥃 Jack Daniel's, 🥃 Bulleit, 🥃 Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve, 🥃 Old Crow, 🥃 Four Roses, 🥃 Four Roses, 🥃 Elijah Craig, 🥃 Jim Beam, 🥃 Jim Beam Original, 🥃 Kentucky Bourbon, 🥃 Wheat whiskey
Frequently asked questions
Why is Maker's Mark spelled whisky, not whiskey?
The brand uses the Scottish spelling, without the e, unlike many American producers.
What are Cask Strength and the 101?
Cask Strength has been released since 2014, and the 101 since 2018.
Did the strength ever change?
In 2013 the brand tried to lower it to 42% but reversed the decision.
Does Maker's Mark contain rye?
No. The mash is 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat and 14% malted barley.
Who owns Maker's Mark?
Suntory Global Spirits, since 2024, after Beam Suntory and Fortune Brands.
What to read next
- 🍷 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.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🐝 American white oak — A North American oak that gives wine strong vanilla and coconut notes.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans — The people of the United States in North America, descendants of settlers and Native peoples; their home-grown cheese is California's Monterey Jack.
Similar
🥃 Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey · 🥃 Jack Daniel's · 🥃 George Dickel · 🥃 Buffalo Trace · 🥃 Seagram's Seven Crown · 🥃 Royal Brackla
⚠️ 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.
What it includes
Sources
- Maker's Mark: офіційний сайт марки (Maker's Mark, Maker's 46, Cask Strength)
- Suntory Global Spirits: Maker's Mark (власник марки)
- Wikidata: Maker's Mark (Q104439402; bourbon whiskey)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)