Maker’s Mark continues to redefine its aging approach with the launch of Cellar Aged 2024, the latest expression in its Cellar Aged series. Blending 12- and 13-year-old Bourbons, this whiskey is bottled at an impressive 59.7% ABV and priced at US$175.
Following the debut of the series in 2023, which introduced the oldest whiskey the brand had ever bottled, this year’s release takes it further, comprising 15% 12-year-old and 85% 13-year-old Bourbon. This shift marks a bold departure for Maker’s Mark, which had historically avoided extended aging.
Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whiskey maker, expressed excitement over the latest release, emphasizing the brand’s dedication to maintaining its founders’ flavor vision while exploring new boundaries
The whiskey is aged in Maker’s Mark’s limestone cellar, built in 2016, which provides a cooler climate and tempers the oak influence, resulting in a richer and more complex spirit. According to Dr. Blake Layfield, head of innovation and blending, this allows Maker’s Mark to avoid the harsher tannins often found in older American whiskies.
Tasting notes for Cellar Aged 2024 describe a nose of caramelised sugar, zesty citrus, and toasted almond, with a palate of buttery shortbread, rich coconut, and bright spices.
The 2024 release is available in the US from 16 September, and will roll out in the UK, Germany, and select travel retail markets soon, with availability in Korea, Japan, and Singapore in early 2025.
