It is no secret that I do not care for the regular bottle of Maker’s Mark 46. I find it too tannic for my taste and only drink it in Old Fashioned cocktails. It needs the simple syrup to balance out the tannins. However, I find the cask strength is much more balanced, with sweet vanilla balancing out the tannins of the French oak staves. I recently received a bottle of the Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength and Matt and I sat down and tasted it for review. Here are our tasting notes.
Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength
Proof: 110.3
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, apples, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: A caramel chew, notes of coffee beans, brown sugar, and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the vanilla is reduced and the nutmeg and cinnamon are enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and chocolate comes out in the taste with a hint of citrus and the spice takes a back seat.
- Matt: Caramel, vanilla latte coffee, cream and sugar, with oak wood. The dried cranberry made the caramel a vanilla and enhanced the oak wood. The pecan made it more oak-forward with cherries and cocoa powder.
Finish:
- Mike: Long and dry with oak and cinnamon. The dried cranberry added some lingering apple fruit. The pecan added lingering chocolate.
- Matt: Medium long with oak and lingering vanilla. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and more vanilla. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak wood, cayenne pepper and tobacco.
I would pair this whiskey with a cigar rich in vanilla and cedar spice. I would reach for a NUB Habano wrapper cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller