🥃 Maker's Mark Classic
The core Maker's Mark expression: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 45% ABV (90 proof), wheated mash with no rye.
Maker's Mark Classic is the core expression of the Maker's Mark brand: Kentucky Straight Bourbon at 45% ABV (90 proof). It is a “wheated” bourbon: red winter wheat sits in the mash alongside the corn, so the taste is softer and sweeter than in rye bourbons. The producer describes cherry, vanilla, caramel and light spice.
The mash is 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat and 14% malted barley. US rules require bourbon to contain at least 51% corn and to mature in new charred oak barrels. According to Difford's Guide, aging lasts six to seven and a half years, with barrels rotated between warehouse tiers. Each bottle is dipped by hand in red wax.
Why this matters to you. Classic is the lightest line of Maker's Mark: the 46, Cask Strength and 101 expressions have higher strength or extra oak finishing. Compare them by the ABV on the label. 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); Kentucky Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|
| Raw material | 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | 6–7.5 years (per Difford's Guide), no age statement on the label |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 45% ABV (90 proof) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Maker's Mark Classic → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt 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 46, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Maker's Mark 101, 🥃 Maker's Mark 46, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Maker's Mark Classic contains rye?
No. The mash is corn, red winter wheat and malted barley; there is no rye.
What is the strength of Classic?
45% ABV (90 proof), according to the producer's page.
How long is Classic aged?
According to Difford's Guide, six to seven and a half years; the bottle does not state an age.
What to read next
- 🥃 Maker's Mark 46 — Maker's Mark finished in a barrel with ten toasted French oak staves; 47% ABV per Difford's Guide.
- 🍷 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 Cask Strength — Barrel-proof Maker's Mark: 107–114 proof depending on the batch, at least seven years, small batches.
- 🥃 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.
Similar
🥃 Maker's Mark 101 · 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength · 🥃 Maker's Mark 46 · 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch · 🥃 Four Roses Bourbon · 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch
⚠️ 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: Classic (Kentucky Straight Bourbon; 90 proof, 45 % Alc./Vol.; wheated bourbon; hand-dipped in red wax)
- 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)
- Bourbon Obsessed: Maker's Mark Bourbon: Proof Matters (Original 90, 101, Cask Strength 108–114 proof; same mash bill)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 (US): standards of identity for whisky — bourbon (min. 51 % corn, charred new oak; straight: min. 2 years)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)