Maker's Mark and Weller Special

[samboh]

I'm guessing there exists a thread in which regular Maker's Mark and Weller's Special Reserve are compared. If not, will someone please express an opinion? I love the taste of MM but the finish seems thin. Flyfish recommended OWA, which I will try. Now I'm wondering about Weller's SR? Thanks very much, Sam.

[mibourbonguy]

I haven't had MM since the spring, but I did have OWA and MMCS last night. Now I'm not very good at tasting notes, so bear with me.

OWA

Nose of caramel, spice, apples. Palate is sweet, hot, a little oily. Finish is long with oak, cinnamon, and a little dry

MMCS

Nose is light, sweet with vanilla and hint of cinnamon. Taste consists of oak, vanilla, and spice. Full of flavor with some burn. Finish is a little dry with a hint of spice to it. Note this is for batch 15-3

If you like MM, you will like OWA, and will definitely like MMCS. I would rank them MMCS, OWA, then MM being third.

[Jazz Nut]

I agree with the tasting notes above, I have also noticed that OWA noticeably opens up once about 1/2 empty. If you were taking WSR into account, it may well rank last out of MMCS, OWA, MM. For a few dollars more you can get OWA. I plan on doing a wheater tasting in a few weeks and will be featuring Weller's primarily. W12, OWA, WSR, SB Blend, and Old Rip Van Winkle.

[Flyfish]

Go to Straight Bourbon of the Month and scroll down to the bottom of the stickies where you will find Bourbon of the Month alphabetized for easy reference.

[ken_mays]

WSR is thin too, but doesn't have as much noticeable alcohol flavor as MM. Neither one are bottles I would bother keeping around.

[samboh]

Thanks, Ken. My taste is unsophisticated so I'll stick with MM for a while. Maybe later move on to 46. Have I asked you yet about Larceny? If not, your opinion as to taste, etc. please. Thank you again,

Sam

[MOwhisky4me]

Samboh, my recommendation would be grab a fifth of Weller Special Reserve and try it. Not sure what prices are in your area, but it's normally $15-16 a fifth (750ml) around my neck of the woods, so not expensive. And if you really want to do it justice, grab a fifth of Larceny too. Do a side by side of MM, WSR, & Larceny and decide which one you prefer. My preference of the 3 is Larceny, but I still keep WSR on hand because it has it's own virtues.

Getting others opinions only takes you so far. There are plenty of lower shelf bourbons that get passed by because someone told someone else it's not worth buying. I have bourbons that I absolutely love that I've read reviews for where the reviewer thinks it's slightly above goat saliva.

Anyway, with choices like this that are relatively affordable and easily found, I think it'd be in your best interest to enjoy a taste test!

[samboh]

Will do. Hoping Larceny is as smooth as MM. THANKS!

[ken_mays]

Thanks, Ken. My taste is unsophisticated so I'll stick with MM for a while. Maybe later move on to 46. Have I asked you yet about Larceny? If not, your opinion as to taste, etc. please. Thank you again,

Sam

[samboh]

Thank you, Ken. I'l buy a 750ml soon.