A quick History of
Maker's Mark Distillery
Maker’s Mark has some of the oldest roots in the world of American Whiskey. Here’s a quick dive into the history of the company, as well as some of our favorite products.
11/28/2022
The History
Maker’s Mark Distillery began with the Samuels family’s 1953 purchase of the historic Burks’ Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. While the Maker’s Mark brand was new the to whiskey world, they took over an operation that had been producing whiskey since 1889. That history allowed them to hit the ground running to produce their iconic brand.
Maker’s Mark is immediately recognizable by its distinctive red wax topper. It’s part of the unique look – each bottle is hand-dipped so no two look the same – that helps the Loretto, Kentucky-based distiller carve out its own space in the bourbon universe.
Co-founder Margie Samuels is responsible for the immediately recognizable toppers, hand-dipping the first bottles in her kitchen, as well as several other marketing flourishes that allow Maker’s Mark to stand out. She came up with the name, designed the label and chose the square bottle shape using inspiration from old bottles of cognac.
Margie was also at the forefront of the burgeoning bourbon tourism industry. She insisted on investing in the distillery to keep it restored and picturesque. She believed the beautiful landscape and trademark red shutters were as important to maintaining the brand as the bourbon itself.
If Margie was the brains behind Maker’s Mark’s marketing machine, her husband and co-founder, Bill Samuels, Sr., was the inspiration behind the bourbon itself. Bill, a sixth-generation distiller, experimented with several different flavoring grains in an attempt to create a unique mash. To save years of time, he baked numerous loaves of bread with different combinations rather than distilling them. The approach led to him replacing the traditional rye grain common to most bourbons for soft, red winter wheat. The end result is a bourbon that is sweeter and more delicate.
Maker’s Mark turns 70 in 2023 and the business continues to grow and innovate. Like many operations, the Maker’s Brand has been bought and sold a handful of times. In 2014, it joined the Beam Suntory family, one of the largest distilled beverage producers in the world.
Despite ownership changes, the Maker’s brand has maintained its family-owned status throughout. Margie and Bill’s son, Bill, Jr., who also happens to be a rocket scientist, launched Maker’s Mark 46. Their son, Rob, now runs the empire. Or as Bill, Sr., put it – not “screwing up the whisky.”
The Products
Want to grab a fun Maker’s product to try on your own? Here are two of my favorites:
Maker's mark cask strength
Cask-strength bourbon pretty much goes straight from barrel to bottle and is one of the purest forms of bourbon on the market. While most whiskey is “proofed” down with distilled water, cask or barrel-proof offerings are not. This results in bottles that are typically higher in alcohol content and flavor.
While that style isn’t for everyone, many of us love the hot stuff. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength will range from 108-114 proof, depending on the barrels. It maintains the typical Maker’s Mark smoothness while increasing some of the spice notes that many of us enjoy.
maker's mark wood finishing series
Maker’s Wood Finishing Series begins with a barrel of fully-matured cask-strength bourbon. Next, they pick 10 barrel staves, add them to the barrel and allow it to rest for an additional 9 weeks in their limestone cellar. The end result is a unique whiskey that is just as smooth as, and often bolder than your traditional bottle Maker’s Mark.
Their 2022 releases were labeled BRT-01 & BRT-02. They are named for Maker’s tradition of hand-rotating barrels during the aging process. BRT-01 is meant to represent the flavors typically found in the hotter top part of the rickhouse. Naturally, BRT-02 is meant to reflect the flavors of the cooler, bottom levels of the rickhouse