Maker’s Mark Distillery recently unveil the latest releases of the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, BRT-01 and BRT-02.
In keeping with tradition, the newest expressions showcase another choice within the Maker’s Mark bourbon-making process – barrel rotation. Bourbon owes a lot of its flavor to the barrel, and a lot of that flavor comes from the barrel’s reaction to different temperatures. Maker’s Mark has always hand-rotated barrels from the top to the bottom of their rickhouses ensuring equal exposure to temperatures over time and resulting in the consistent flavors Maker’s Mark is known for. As we like to say in Loretto, Ky., this step is “purposeful inefficiency” at its best and a process that hasn’t changed since the beginning.
The name “BRT” was given to these expressions because of the influence that the consistent practice of hand-barrel rotation (BRT) and temperature has on the Maker’s Mark whisky process. BRT-01 is inspired by the hotter top of the rickhouse and uses American oak staves to dial up the flavors developed over the first three years of aging. BRT-02 is inspired by the cooler bottom of the rickhouse and uses French oak staves to dial up the flavors developed over its final years of aging.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series BRT-01 and Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series BRT-02 are nationwide for $59.99.
