Old Maker's Mark question

[NeoTexan]

Rachel, as someone who has drank MM for many years, I can tell you that the taste has changed over the years. If you can find a bottle of the old tax stamp Makers you wlll find a distinctive difference. Many say that those bottling were far superior to todays production. Perhaps it is just over the years the judging committee has slowly shifted it to what we have today.

Dale

[cowdery]

In spite of what companies say, it would be almost impossible for there not to be something that has changed in 30 years. What the distiller and other technical people do all day is tweak and tinker to counteract the effects of any changes that may have occurred to make sure the product continues to taste the same.

Taste memory is useless because we change. "I remember it tasted _____ 30-years-ago," Well, no, you don't. You don't remember that any better than you remember what really happened on prom night. Worse. Memories of tastes and smells are notoriously faulty.

Distillers keep samples of everything. They can, and do, have their tasting panels compare current production to, yes, even 30-year-old samples. Not old bottles somebody found in a basement, but distillery samples. They may not be identical. No two batches in the same year are truly identical. But you don't get the extreme differences people claim.

Whiskey is a natural product so it's bound to change. Would we want it otherwise?

I don't usually waste my breath, or my presently-limited dexterity, on this because it's the kind of thing people just believe in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

[JimJamKC]

MM is my favorite bourbon, and I would love to obtain a bottle of this. By chance is there any more that you can get, and if so, how much is it? Please PM me with information....

THank you,

James

[cowdery]

As if on cue ...

[Enoch]

MM is my favorite bourbon, and I would love to obtain a bottle of this. By chance is there any more that you can get, and if so, how much is it? Please PM me with information....

THank you,

James

I only bought two of the bottles. He had more but not sure how many. Plan on going back in a couple of weeks because I have to go to DFW next week. I'll check then.

[Enoch]

In spite of what companies say, it would be almost impossible for there not to be something that has changed in 30 years. What the distiller and other technical people do all day is tweak and tinker to counteract the effects of any changes that may have occurred to make sure the product continues to taste the same.

Taste memory is useless because we change. "I remember it tasted _____ 30-years-ago," Well, no, you don't. You don't remember that any better than you remember what really happened on prom night. Worse. Memories of tastes and smells are notoriously faulty.

Distillers keep samples of everything. They can, and do, have their tasting panels compare current production to, yes, even 30-year-old samples. Not old bottles somebody found in a basement, but distillery samples. They may not be identical. No two batches in the same year are truly identical. But you don't get the extreme differences people claim.

Whiskey is a natural product so it's bound to change. Would we want it otherwise?

I don't usually waste my breath, or my presently-limited dexterity, on this because it's the kind of thing people just believe in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

This makes sense. My brother-in-law is a taster for a winery in CA. He explains that while they try to be consistent there are always variables that can affect taste. I would guess the same here.

[BBQ+Bourbon]

Interesting, I did greatly enjoy those two in the 70's and have always wondered if it is just nostalgia or something changing. With Maker's, one would think the information should be available simply by asking Bill Samuels. Personally I would doubt they changed the mash bill in this way, but who knows?

I did have a small taste once (i.e., in the last few years) of Maker's Mark from the 70's courtesy a member of this board and it was excellent, rich and darker seemingly than today's. But I'd like to repeat the experience to confirm...

Gary

Last weekend my dad and I opened a quart bottle of Jack Daniels from the early 70s. I can't compare it to current JD because I haven't had any in years, but it was nothing special. The flavor was boring with no heat and no finish. It was a real let down and I didn't feel bad watching my dad drown it in Diet Coke.

At the same time, we opened a bottle of Crown Royal with a Canadian 1974 tax strip. The Crown had a bit of caramel sweetness and a pleasant flavor, again with no heat and no finish. Of the two, the Crown was by far my favorite.

I'd still like to try older Makers but I wouldn't work too hard for it.

[Gillman]

Interesting. The fact of no heat might be viewed as a plus by some, but it sounds like the flavour didn't strike you as special. I'd still like to try it, especially side by side with the current one.

Gary

[BBQ+Bourbon]

Interesting. The fact of no heat might be viewed as a plus by some, but it sounds like the flavour didn't strike you as special. I'd still like to try it, especially side by side with the current one.

Gary

You're in luck, Gary. I'm headed to my hometown to see my brand new nephew and there is an empty sample bottle with your name on it. PM your address and I'll get this out your way.

[Gillman]

That's very kind of you! But residing in Canada you can't ship anything here, our Customs just sends it back.

My suggestion is to reserve some of it for the Gazebo crowd in Bardstown if you can make it for April 28 Sampler, I'll be there for sure . Thanks again for the offer, much appreciated.

Gary

[Buffalo Bill]

If I had some old Maker's from the 80's or early-mid 90's I wouldn't be sitting on it, I'd be drinking it! The difference between then and now is like great to mediocre. The Maker's of today has no body and legs in comparison. Old Maker's drinks like honey.