Maker’s Mark recently announced the launch of the Maker’s Mark 2020 Limited Release, the second nationally available limited release bourbon in its Wood Finishing Series.
Following the success of last year’s Stave Profile RC6 release, this year’s release showcases the distillery’s pursuit of enhanced vanilla and caramel notes that have defined its flagship expression for more than fifty years.
The 2020 Limited Release joins the Wood Finishing Series as the distillery celebrates the 10th anniversary of Maker’s Mark 46, the first innovation utilizing its stave finishing technique to draw out and highlight characteristics inherent to Maker’s Mark.
“Since the introduction of Maker’s Mark 46, wood staves have become our tool of choice for unlocking and amplifying natural flavors already present in our classic Maker’s Mark – always purposefully and with a specific taste vision in mind,” says Jane Bowie, Director of Innovation at Maker’s Mark. “Where Maker’s Mark 46 was about creating a ‘bolder’ Maker’s, and the 2019 release was all about boosting the notes of baking spice and fruit, our 2020 Limited Release has been a quest to amp up those rich vanilla and buttery-caramel flavors that typically stem from our unique approach to seasoning our barrel wood outside for a full year.”
This year’s limited offering differs from its predecessor by utilizing two stave styles – one drawing on vanilla, the other on caramel – that when married together yield a rich Maker’s Mark reminiscent of butter pecan. The multi-stave approach was the result of more than twelve months of experimentation with Maker’s Mark barrel producer Independent Stave Company. The first stave in the 2020 Limited Release, SE4, is made from Virgin French Oak, convection cooked at medium heat with a short toast period and responsible for much of the caramel flavor. The second stave, PR5, is made from Virgin American Oak and convection cooked at low heat very slowly over time to bring out vanilla.
Like Maker’s Mark 46 and Maker’s Mark Private Selection, the 2020 Limited Release was crafted by finishing fully-matured, cask strength Maker’s Mark in secondary barrels containing the proprietary staves. The barrels were then rested in the Maker’s Mark limestone bourbon cellar where the liquid interacts with the staves, before being mingled together.
Maker’s Mark 2020 Limited Release will retail for $59.99.
