Maker's Mark
Overview of the Distillery
Maker’s Mark is located at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky, and is a family-owned bourbon distillery known for its wheated mashbill and hand-dipped red wax seals. The distillery's profile is closely tied to the estate's limestone-filtered spring water, a heritage of craft traditions, and a strong commitment to regenerative agriculture and sustainability.
History
Maker’s Mark grew out of Bill and Margie Samuels' desire to create a bourbon without the typical 'burn,' and has been produced at the same distillery since 1953. Bill Samuels, Sr. developed the characteristic use of soft red winter wheat in the mashbill, while Margie designed the bottle's presentation with the labels and the red wax seal. In subsequent generations, Bill Samuels, Jr. contributed experiments such as wood-stave finishing, and today Rob Samuels leads the distillery with a focus on preserving Star Hill Farm and scaled production. In January 2022, Maker’s Mark was B Corp-certified, and more recently the distillery introduced Star Hill Farm Whisky as an Estate Whiskey-certified release that has garnered several international awards.
Raw Materials and Production
The mashbill is based on soft red winter wheat instead of traditional rye, which yields a pronounced front-of-palate sweetness. The grain includes corn and various wheat varieties; 86% of the corn and wheat comes from ten selected growers who practice regenerative methods. Water for production is drawn from a spring-fed, limestone-filtered lake at Star Hill Farm, and the distillation occurs in column copper stills with a double distillation. A yeast strain kept for over 60 years is used for fermentation. Many artisanal elements are preserved: barrels are rotated by hand, labels are printed on an old press, and each bottle is hand-dipped in signature red wax.
Maturation and Cask Types
Maker’s Mark uses new American white oak for their barrels; the wood is seasoned outdoors for at least nine months plus one summer in Kentucky before barreling. Charred (char) barrels open the wood's pores and caramelize the sugars in the wood, and the aging takes place in solar-powered warehouses where barrels are rotated by hand. The distillery's range also includes a number of wood-finishing experiments, including combinations of oak staves and French oak finishes in editions such as 46 and Private Selection.
Whiskies
Maker’s Mark offers a core portfolio consisting of Classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon and premium editions such as 46 (French Oaked), Cask Strength, and 101 Special Proof. Alongside these are restricted and distillery-exclusive series: Wood Finishing Series, Cellar Aged, and Private Selection. Most recently the distillery launched Star Hill Farm Whisky, an Estate Whiskey-certified American wheat whisky, exploring local wheat varieties and regenerative principles.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Classic) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Premium Bourbons | 45% | American white oak barrels (new) | The core expression of Maker’s Mark, based on a wheated mashbill with soft red winter wheat. Characterized by hand-dipped red wax seal and traditional production methods.; Nose: Front-of-palate sweetness from red winter wheat (general character); Taste: Smooth and balanced (general character) | Current; Core range |
| Maker’s Mark® 46 French Oaked Bourbon | Bourbon; Premium Bourbons | Finish with French oak elements (staves/finish); finish: French oak finishing | A Wood Finishing variant from Maker’s Mark, known for using French oak in the finish. | Current; Core range | |
| Maker's Mark Cask Strength Bourbon | Cask Strength Bourbon; Premium Bourbons | Cask Strength edition based on Maker’s Mark's base distillate, also used as the base for some exclusive distillery releases. | Current; Core range | ||
| Maker’s Mark® 101 Special Proof Bourbon | Bourbon; Premium Bourbons | A higher-proof variant in the Maker’s Mark family, listed as one of the premium editions. | Current; Core range | ||
| Maker’s Mark® Wood Finishing Series — The Stewards Release | Limited / Wood Finished Bourbon | An annual, distillery-exclusive series with special wood-finishing treatments, released in limited quantities from September through year-end. | Limited; Distillery-exclusive/Limited | ||
| Maker’s Mark® Cellar Aged Bourbon | Cellar Aged Bourbon; Limited Release Bourbons | Cellar Aged releases are part of Maker’s Mark's limited-series releases focusing on special aging conditions or finishes. | Limited; Limited / Distillery-exclusive | ||
| Maker’s Mark® Private Selection Bourbon | Private Selection / Wood Finished Bourbon; Limited Release Bourbons | Cask Strength base finished with combination of oak staves; finish: Blended stave finishes (up to ten different oak staves) | Private Selection releases are hand-picked combinations of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength as base and subsequent wood-finishing with multiple oak staves; often distillery-exclusive. | Limited / Distillery-exclusive; Distillery-exclusive/Limited | |
| Star Hill Farm Whisky (2026 release) | American wheat whisky / Estate Whiskey certified | 58.2% | Maker’s Mark's first dedicated American wheat whisky, created from three types of wheat grown on or selected from Star Hill Farm. The series is Estate Whiskey Certified and developed as an expression of regenerative agriculture and local sourcing.; Nose: Dark and rich with notes of molasses, fig, and delicate spice.; Taste: Vibrant and complex with notes of fresh citrus, ripe pear, and shortbread.; Finish: Long and harmonious with rich sweetness and soft cinnamon. | Current |
Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
Across the portfolio, a clear sweetness from red winter wheat returns, along with fruit notes and bakery-character. Documented aromas and flavor directions include fruit (fig, pear, citrus), sweet/bakery elements (shortbread, molasses), and warm spices (cinnamon, delicate spices). The vanilla notes from barrel char and finish methods contribute to the overall balance.
Visiting the Distillery
Star Hill Farm is open to visitors with guided tours, tastings, a distillery shop, and the Star Hill Provisions restaurant. The Distillery & Gift Shop hours are 9:30–17:00, the restaurant 11:30–15:30, and the bar 10:00–16:00. Tours typically must be booked in advance ('Book a Tour'), and the visit provides insight into production, hand-dipped wax seals, and in some experiences the opportunity to dip a bottle yourself.
The stated hours are Distillery & Gift Shop: 9:30 - 17:00; Restaurant: 11:30 - 15:30; Bar: 10:00 - 16:00.
Philosophy and Craftsmanship
Maker’s Mark combines traditional craftsmanship with a documented commitment to sustainability. The distillery invests in regenerative agriculture, the protection of its own water reservoir, and circular initiatives such as zero landfill, glass-to-sand, and local wood research. The aim is to create flavor through improved soil and water management while also delivering a positive social and environmental impact.
Sustainability
B Corp™ certification (achieved January 2022).
Star Hill Farm is Regenified™ Tier 3 certified and 100% Certified Regenified as a working farm.
86% of the grain (corn and wheat) comes from ten selected growers who practice regenerative agriculture.
Solar-powered warehouses, zero-landfill initiatives, glass-to-sand upcycling, and extensive recycling programs.
Awards and Recognitions
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World’s Best Wheat Whisky (2026, Winner, Star Hill Farm Whisky)
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Double Gold (2025, Double Gold, Star Hill Farm Whisky)
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Gold (2025, Gold, Star Hill Farm Whisky)
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Gold (2025, Gold, Star Hill Farm Whisky)
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Gold (2025, Gold, Star Hill Farm Whisky)
Latest News
Maker’s Mark Achieves B Corp™ Certification – 2022-01
In January 2022, Maker’s Mark became the largest distillery company in the world to achieve B Corp certification, a milestone recognizing the distillery's work with employees, local communities, and the environment.