American whiskey (bourbon) “Makers Mark” even in Kentucky, in its historical homeland, costs a lot of money. Not to mention the prices in our wine shops, after paying the customs duty and trade markup. Maker's Mark is an elite drink - not for every day and not even for every holiday. Already one type of bottle, albeit a laconic design, suggests that this product is made, as they say, by hand. On the neck is a wax seal of bright color. A stamp with the inscription “S IV” is proudly and convexly displayed on the bottle. What do these letters and numbers mean, we will explain in this article. We will also describe the characteristics of bourbon and briefly describe the stages of its production. Of considerable importance for the taste and bouquet of the drink is raw materials. The company makes no secret of the composition of whiskey. Thanks to the ingredients, the drink has become so elitist and, as a result, expensive. And what do the reviews say in Maker's Mark bourbon? We studied them, and below you will find a brief analysis of the impressions that made whiskey on consumers.
Samuels Family History
It is safe to say that the Makers Mark is the oldest distillery in America, operating in its original place. The first venture appeared in Kentucky in 1805. True, the Robertson Samuels family was far from the idea of making whiskey. At first it was a mill for grinding grain. Having become knowledgeable about bread and the characteristics of various cereals, the grandson of the founder of the dynasty, known as "Sheriff Khai", decided to start producing bourbon. That was in 1840. He developed a recipe for American bourbon, which he considered a universal formula for success. However, distillery products were not in such demand as they are now. Huy did not depart from the classical bourbon recipe and used rye as part of the drink, which made the taste of whiskey quite sharp and vulgar. When Prohibition was introduced in the States, the Samuels venture closed.
Revolutionary breakthrough
The thirty-fourth year brought relief. Prohibition was repealed. But twenty-four years passed before the first bottle of Makers Mark whiskey was launched. In the forty-third year, the sixth representative of the Samuels dynasty, Bill, decided to give a damn about the family recipe for bourbon passed from father to son. Probably, the spirit of his distant ancestor-miller, who knew a lot about grains, was awakened in him. Or, perhaps, Bill understood that the taste of loaf of bread is important in American whiskey? He began the development of a new whiskey recipe in a very unusual way. He baked bread, mixing various cereals and experimenting with their percentage. So he came to the most optimal, in his opinion, formula. Corn, red winter wheat and barley malt are the ingredients of Maker's Mark. Note that whiskey lacks the rye traditional for bourbon. She, according to Bill Samuels, gave the drink a hard and slightly fusky taste.
Women's merit
In fairness, it should be noted that the Makers Mark bourbon has earned a high image not only thanks to Bill Samuels. A big contribution to the "promotion" of the company was made by his wife, Marge. This lady had impeccable taste. In addition, she collected cognac bottles and various tin gizmos. Knowing how spectacular the combination of glass and sealing wax looks, she developed the design of the bottle, where they poured an exclusive drink. For many months she wondered what to call a new bourbon. Finally, it dawned on her: “The Seal of the Master” - Maker's Mark. She designed the bottle. Laconic bottle and at the same time original, as if inflated. This emphasized the fact that the drink was made in scanty batches, home-made. But not without errors. Not very versed in Roman numerals, Marge wrote “S IV” on the convex label of the bottle. The letter meant “Samuels,” and the figure was to determine that Bill was the sixth member of the genus. But the husband did not want to upset his wife and therefore did not tell her that IV was four, not six. Instead, to play along with his wife, he wrote “whiskey” (in the Scottish manner) on the label, while all whiskey producers in the United States write this name as whiskey.
Today's Makers Mark factory
So, in 1958, the first bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon was introduced to the market and the court of whiskey lovers. The neck, sealed with red sealing wax, impressed customers. And Samuels sold their products for just seven dollars per bottle. But even more impressed by connoisseurs of whiskey from what was hidden under the lid. No one has tried such a mild taste, honey, buttery, for a long time. In 1980, the Samuel’s family distillery, The See Makers Mark, located in Loretto, Kentucky, received another honorary title: Secretary of the Interior, Cecil Andrews, declared it the US National Historic Site. Previously, the company produced no more than nineteen barrels of drink per year. But in the year 2000, the distillery doubled its production capacity. But the volume of products that are produced today is still small, to call the drink "mass." That's why the price for a bottle of Maker's Mark American bourbon is pretty impressive.
Ingredients
For the manufacture of whiskey “Makers Mark” water is used from a limestone lake, which is replenished only during spring rains. All bourbon grain is grown on small farms near the winery. Red winter wheat gives the drink a delicate and mild flavor. Yellow corn is responsible for flavor. Barley for whiskey roams naturally and does not contain enzymes that increase the level of gibberellic acid.
Production process (briefly)
A grain mill is used for grain processing. This allows you not to drain the grains and avoid bitterness in the taste of the drink. Although modern distillers find this processing method too slow, they use it in the company, just like an open oven, to increase the aroma of whiskey. The company uses its own cultivation yeast for fermentation. And the drink is fermented in cypress barrels, which are more than a hundred years old. Samuels abandoned the use of steel tanks. Cypress, in his opinion, does not affect the final taste of the product. The company is the only distillery in the United States that practices double distillation. An additional procedure ensures complete removal of sediments and impurities. All this affects the cost of Makers Mark products. The price for a bottle of this whiskey reaches three, or even three and a half thousand rubles.
Drink characteristic
Is it worth spreading that kind of money for seven hundred milliliters of bourbon? Let's crack open the wax fill on the neck, uncork the bottle and taste the Makers Mark whiskey (bourbon). 45 degrees is the only thing that makes the drink similar to American straight. Although ordinary bourbon has a fortress of forty degrees. The grain, which was born in the vicinity of Loretto (Kentucky) and underwent double distillation with cold filtration, gave the whiskey its golden color. The drink stood for eight years in white American oak barrels. Wood conveyed its notes to the drink, they are felt slightly and only in a dry aftertaste. Whiskey has a complex aromatic bouquet. At first exotic flowers are heard, and then warm shades of oak come onto the stage. All this indicates the high quality of bourbon. The taste of this whiskey is infinitely delicate, slightly honeyed, oily.
Gastronomic combinations
How to serve and what to drink bourbon "Makers Mark" with? The price of whiskey is such that they should not be neglected and consumed with other dishes. "Seal of the Master" is an ideal digestif. When the stomach is full, you can slowly surrender to the endless enjoyment of bourbon. Nothing else is needed. Unless, if it's too hot, you can put two ice cubes in a whiskey glass . So the vanilla-honey taste of the drink is revealed more fully. Although some experts say that on the basis of the "Makers Mark" or with his participation, you can prepare delicious alcoholic cocktails. A bottle of whiskey can be stored for years. From old age, the drink only gets better.
Whiskey "Makers Mark": reviews
Despite the advertised sales of nineteen barrels a year, many Russian consumers have already tried this bourbon. Of course, the fake Makers Mark has flooded the market, and the price of the drink is the main reason for this. But what do those who have purchased whiskey in trusted stores say? The aroma with notes of tropical flowers, dried fruits and honey makes you think that before you is a sweet drink. But taking the first sip, you will be surprised and even amazed. No sweets, just a pleasant bitterness, like a bread crust. The aftertaste of the bourbon is long, dry, woody. Those who have tried the “Seal of the Master” as part of cocktails say that because of their softness, bourbon is completely lost in mixtures.