🥃 Maker's Mark 46
Maker's Mark finished in a barrel with ten toasted French oak staves; 47% ABV per Difford's Guide.
Maker's Mark 46 is a bourbon in which fully matured Maker's Mark is finished once more in a barrel with inserted staves. According to Difford's Guide, it is 47% ABV (94 proof), with no age statement. It is the distillery's first new expression after the core Maker's Mark; the taste is usually described as toasted oak, caramel and baking spices.
Cooper Brad Boswell proposed inserting toasted French oak staves into an ordinary barrel. The producer speaks of ten staves, and the bourbon returned to the barrel matures for a further few months; Difford's Guide says two to three. The number 46 is the number of the trial toasting profile. The base is the same: a wheated mash and oak barrels, so it remains a bourbon.
Why this matters to you. The 46 is stronger and more oaky than Maker's Mark Classic: it is not older, but finished differently. The producer's page gives two different ABV figures for it, so check the number on the bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Legal basis | USA: 27 CFR § 5.143 (bourbon: at least 51% corn, new charred oak barrels) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Maker's Mark mash: corn, red winter wheat, malted barley |
| Cask type | Maker's Mark barrel with ten toasted French oak staves |
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; finishing after full maturation |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 47% ABV (94 proof) per Difford's Guide |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Maker's Mark 46 → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🐝 French oak, 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Maker's Mark, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Maker's Mark 101, 🥃 Maker's Mark 101, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic, 🥃 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Maker's Mark 46 is not a bourbon?
No. According to Difford's Guide, the toasted staves meet the definition of charring, so the drink remains a bourbon.
What does the number 46 mean?
It is the number of the trial toasting treatment that cooper Brad Boswell gave the oak, according to Difford's Guide.
What is the strength of the 46?
47% ABV (94 proof) according to Difford's Guide; the producer's page gives conflicting figures of 45 and 47%.
What to read next
- 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength — Barrel-proof Maker's Mark: 107–114 proof depending on the batch, at least seven years, small batches.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Maker's Mark 101 — The classic Maker's Mark recipe at 101 proof (about 50.5% ABV); the producer's page lists it as a limited release.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Maker's Mark 101 · 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength · 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic · 🥃 Four Roses Bourbon · 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch · 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch Select
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Maker's Mark: Maker's 46 (fully matured Maker's Mark finished with ten seared French oak staves; limestone cellar)
- Difford's Guide: Maker's 46 Bourbon (47 % ABV, 94 proof; seared French white oak staves; name from trial profile no. 46)
- Difford's Guide: Maker's Mark Distillery (70 % corn, 16 % soft red winter wheat, 14 % malted barley; 6 to 7,5 years; Maker's 46)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)