Same red wax, different Maker’s Mark

It seemed like any other day at the Maker’s Mark Distillery, as workers dunked tops of whiskey bottles into tubs of red wax. Only this time, the bottles were different — and so was the bourbon.

Since the late 1950s, the quaint distillery tucked into the Kentucky hills has churned out just one product — Maker’s Mark. That’s changing with next month’s introduction of Maker’s 46, a close cousin of the original but with a different aging method in the final weeks to give the whiskey a distinctive taste. The new product is 94 proof, slightly higher than traditional Maker’s.

As Maker’s 46 mingles with its oak-lined barrels, it takes on stronger hints of caramel, spice and vanilla, Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. said.

“This is our first creation in 52 years, and it really is a creation,” Smith said.

Associated Press