Maker's Mark No. 46 Bourbon Whiskey
Maker's Mark No. 46 Bourbon Whiskey is a 47% ABV (94 proof) wheated bourbon in a 750mL bottle — fully matured Maker's Mark finished with ten seared French oak staves for ~9 weeks in the distillery's limestone cellar — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: no age statement — aged to taste, not to a number
- Mash bill: 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, 14% malted barley — no rye (wheated bourbon)
- Finish: ten seared French oak staves (Stave Profile No. 46 — the 46th of 125 profiles tested, from the Independent Stave Company) inserted into each finished barrel; ~9 weeks in the limestone cellar, tasted daily
- Origin: Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto, Kentucky — launched 2010, the first new expression in ~50 years, created by Bill Samuels Jr.
- Other: non-chill filtered; hand-dipped red wax seal
The First New Maker's in Fifty Years
When Bill Samuels Jr. wanted a bigger Maker's Mark without adding rye, he called the Independent Stave Company and ran through 125 experimental stave profiles; No. 46 was the 46th. The process: fully matured Maker's gets ten seared French oak staves (seared, not charred — gentler) inserted into each barrel, then ~9 weeks in the distillery's cool, consistent limestone cellar with daily tasting. The result is Maker's DNA — soft wheat, caramel — amplified with toasted oak, vanilla, and spice. Explore more bourbon whiskey or the full Maker's Mark range.
Tasting Notes
The stave finish is the story: amplified vanilla and caramel over the classic wheated-soft Maker's base, with toasted oak, baking spice, and a longer, drier finish than the original at 94 proof.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash — the 94 proof carries flavor without burn. It makes a richer bourbon old fashioned than the standard expression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes No. 46 different from regular Maker's Mark?
Fully matured Maker's Mark is finished with ten seared French oak staves for ~9 weeks, adding toasted oak, vanilla, and spice at 94 proof vs. the original's 90.
Why is it called No. 46?
Stave Profile No. 46 was the winning profile out of 125 tested with the Independent Stave Company.
What is the mash bill?
70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, 14% malted barley — no rye.
Wheated, stave-finished, 94 proof — order Maker's Mark No. 46 online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.