In January 2021, amid the COVID 19 outbreak, Maker’s Mark introduced their “Whiskey Drop” program. This program allows members to receive an email about the next whiskey available for purchase. The program allows for several perks for members. First of all, it allows for the member to purchase two bottles of their latest releases. These releases are special bottles not available to the general public outside of the Maker’s Mark gift shop. Think their wood finishing series, their DNA series (Barrel Proof variations), and other special bottles that their Research and Development team create. Each delivery comes with cocktail recipes and news from the distillery. Membership also allows the member and up to three guests to take a free tour of the distillery each year. 

Rosemary has been a member of the Whiskey Drop program since its beginning. We have been very happy with the bottles sent to us so far. The cost of the bottles, with shipping is in the neighborhood of $200.00 per drop. The latest drop was in July 2023 and consisted of two bottles of Maker’s Mark Private Selection bottles being sold in their gift shop. They are called “Selection 01: Caramel Popcorn” and “Selection 02: Chess Pie”. The Caramel Popcorn has the following staves: 4 Baked American Pure, 2 Seared French Cuvée, 2 Maker’s Mark 46, 2 Roasted French Mendiant. The Chess Pie has these staves: 3 Baked American Pure, 5 Seared French Cuvée, 1 Maker’s 46, 1 Roasted French Mendiant. Matt and I sat down and tasted these bottles the other day and here are our tasting notes.

Maker’s Mark Whiskey Drop Selection 01: Caramel Popcorn

Proof: 109

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Caramel, corn, oak, and a hint of pepper spice.
  • Matt: Caramel, vanilla, dates and oak.

Taste:

  • Mike: Caramel, corn, apples, pepper and oak. Tasted with a dried cranberry brings out the buttery popcorn flavor with a sprinkling of black pepper. Tasted with a pecan and butterscotch and milk chocolate notes come out to join the party.
  • Matt: Buttery caramel, dark fruit and oak. The dried cranberry made the fruit dates with some brown sugar notes. The pecan gave it the flavor of candy corn.

Finish:

  • Mike: Medium long with oak wood, pepper spice and lingering caramel. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and buttery. The pecan made the finish long with oak and butterscotch.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak and caramel. The dried cranberry brought out notes of corn and dark fruit. The pecan made the finish very long with oak and butterscotch.

Maker’s Mark Whiskey Drop Selection 02: Chess Pie

Proof: 109

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Brown sugar, apples with a hint of nutmeg, oak wood.
  • Matt: Caramel toffee, allspice, berries and oak wood.

Taste:

  • Mike: Brown sugar, apples, nutmeg, oak. The dried cranberry enhanced the apple and brought out black pepper spice. The pecan gave it the flavor of pecan pie with a bit of pepper spice.
  • Matt: Chocolate, caramel toffee and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out flavors of milk chocolate, hazelnuts, and cayenne pepper. The pecan brought out flavors of rich caramel, dark chocolate, coffee, hazelnuts and peppery spice.

Finish:

  • Mike: Medium long with oak wood, nutmeg spice and lingering brown sugar sweetness. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and more peppery. The pecan made the finish very long with oak and brown sugar.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak and tobacco. The dried cranberry brought out flavors of hazelnut and chocolate. The pecan made the finish very long with oak wood, tobacco, black pepper and lingering chocolate.

I would pair these fine whiskeys with a My Father The Judge cigar. I think the chocolate and vanilla notes of the smoke would pair well with the sweet notes of the Whiskeys.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller