Experience a rare piece of bourbon history with this 1972 Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. This "Old Style Sour Mash" offers an exceptionally smooth and complex palate, a testament to its pre-modern era craftsmanship and the distillery's enduring commitment to quality. A true collector's gem, it unveils layers of fruit, vanilla, and perfectly integrated oak.

Tasting Notes

Nose: A captivating, nuanced aroma of dried dark cherries, vanilla bean, and toasted oak, intertwined with hints of caramel apple, marzipan, and a subtle undercurrent of baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. A faint, earthy tobacco leaf note emerges with time in the glass, indicative of its age and thoughtful maturation.

Palate: The entry is remarkably soft and sweet, coating the tongue with flavors of butterscotch, rich toffee, and candied orange peel. The signature Maker's Mark wheat influence shines through, offering a velvety texture and a distinctive bready sweetness, complemented by a gentle spice of white pepper and clove. Deeper notes of leather and dark chocolate develop mid-palate, showcasing the well-integrated oak from its long sleep in the barrel.

Finish: Long, warm, and exceptionally smooth. The sweetness recedes gracefully, leaving behind lingering notes of dried fruit, lingering vanilla, and a mellow oak spice. A pleasant, almost almond-like nuttiness emerges, inviting another sip. The absence of harshness is remarkable, a testament to its age and the quality of the original distillate.

About the Distillery

Maker's Mark, founded by Bill Samuels Sr. in 1953, revolutionized bourbon by committing to quality over quantity and using a wheat-heavy mash bill instead of rye. Located on picturesque Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky, it's known for its iconic red wax-dipped bottles and meticulous small-batch production. This 1972 bottling represents an early and significant era in the distillery's history.