Maker's Mark Confessions and Reflections

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

I have wanted to try the black wax for a long time, but a bottle is around twice the price of the red wax. If it was, say, 20 or 30 proof higher I would consider that, but not 5 proof. I may get it at the bar someday, but my favorite place has WT 12, Elijah Craig 18 and any number of other really good bourbons plus some first rate scotch.

Ed

[CrispyCritter]

I don't know, but I had MM on the rocks at a local casino before last call one night and it seemed to taste better that way than the times I had it neat.

Interesting. When I tried Knob Creek with ice, it developed a rather sickly, cloyingly sweet taste. When I poured it neat into a Glencairn glass, I liked it a lot better.

As for MM, I've only had one bottle of it, and I had yet to start drinking whiskey neat at the time. In any case, I did find it very enjoyable.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

For some reason, MM, together with O.Potrero and Tennessee whisk(e)y, have been singled out as never-do-wells on this forum.

Needless to say, I disagree wholeheartedly. I suspect that psychological reasons rather than reactions from the tastebuds are at play here.

As for MM black, I´ve already sung its praises on these pages. Suffice it to say that, with all due respect to Mike Veach, I think his verdict is really up the creek. MM black is an essential bourbon and, curiously enough, not that dissimilar in style to Russell´s reserve.

[musher]

Perhaps that is due to the fact that most of us here can only get the red-wax 6-year-old variety, which is not a very remarkable bourbon to the connoisseur.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Perhaps that is due to the fact that most of us here can only get the red-wax 6-year-old variety, which is not a very remarkable bourbon to the connoisseur.

Point taken but I happen to enjoy the red-wax, as well.

If I remember right it was awarded a respectful 8 out of 10 by Michael Jackson in Whisky Magazine. Surely that must count for something?

[BourbonJoe]

I agree with Hedmans.

Joe

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Thanks, Joe!

I reckon it´s us against the world, then.

[bobbyc]

If I remember right it was awarded a respectful 8 out of 10 by Michael Jackson in Whisky Magazine. Surely that must count for something?

One would hope! Recently at Makers, while waiting for the tour to begin, an award was observed prominently on display where Makers won an International Exhibition against the esteemed company of Bourbons like Old Granddad, Old Crow, Jim Beam, Old Forester,Early Times, Wild Turkey, and even the non Bourbon Jack Daniels! Talk about setting the deck, to even be close to fair, One would like to have least seen a Weller or Old Fitzgerald in the lineup. Whoever set it up went for heavy rye, with heavy barrel char, and even the every drop charcoal filtered drink our Tennessee brothers make. What the criteria was for judging I know not, but I think most would find Makers a smooth drink in that lineup.

If you like it, drink it.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

If you like it, drink it.

Yep. Drink and let drink! Cheers to that!

[Vision]

LOL, I think MM is high priced and WAY overrated..IMHO

[BourbonJoe]

Anyway, the thing that would really make me go back to buying MM more often is if they made their 95 proof black wax available here, even if only for a limited run once a year. The difference between their red wax 90 and black wax 95 is apples and oranges.

Not to mention the old gold wax 101. That stuff was awsome. They should offer more than just the 90.

Joe

[bobbyc]

You know it all seems in the realm of possibilities when Fortune Brands takes over, but they have lots of opportunities at present to expand some lines and aren't doing it, or we might see an Old Taylor Single Barrel, Small Batch Old Overholt etc, so we will have to wait and see.

[Rughi]

Bobby,

I haven't been following the merger news very closely. Has a final decision been made yet?

By the way, the mere mention of the possibility of

"Old Taylor Single Barrel", and "Small Batch Old Overholt" gets my full attention.

Roger - Just another bottle, please - Hodges

[bobbyc]

It hasn't been announced. Brown Forman dropped out, so unless someone makes an end run, Fortune and Pernod Ricard Are the only ones in the game.

[TNbourbon]

British law, I understand, is such that any bidder must have 100%-arranged financing approved and in hand before even tendering a formal bid -- that's what did in Constellation/Brown-Forman. And virtually no one else has the wherewithal to do that within the necessary time frame. It's a done deal.