MAKER'S MARK

'Maker's Mark' is a hand crafted small batch type of bourbon whisky distilled in Loretto, Kentucky.
When the famous T.W. Samuels family of distilling sold their distillery and their trademarks in the 1950s, those members of the family who wished to continue in the business began to search for a small distillery to purchase and continue the trade on a smaller scale, emphasizing high-quality production over high-volume production. They soon found an older distillery in Loretto, Kentucky that had not been operational for several years but was just the right size for the proposed operation. The Samuels decided to come up with a new recipe for their bourbon in order to make it smoother, but since the aging process for bourbon takes years, could not take the time involved actually to distill and age many batches of bourbon of varying ingredients.
A unique solution to this problem was decided upon. Loaves of bread containing the exact proportion of the grain contents of each proposed recipe were baked and the one judged to be the best-tasting was adopted. Interestingly, the one selected contained no rye whatsoever, which was replaced by more barley and wheat. Accordingly, on February 25, 1954, Bill Samuels Sr., a sixth generation Kentucky distiller, burned his family's 170-year-old bourbon recipe[1]. The first bottle of Maker's Mark was sold in 1958 and featured the dipped red wax seal.
Unlike most bourbons, Maker's Mark is not aged for any specific period of years; rather it is bottled and marketed when expert tasters agree that it is ready. Also, the barrels are moved from the lower to the upper floors of the warehouse and back down during the aging process to benefit from the differences in temperature at the various levels. This practice was once common in the distilling industry, but has been largely abandoned due to the high labor expense.
Maker's Mark is sold in unusually-shaped squarish bottles which are sealed with red wax. In the United States, only one variety is marketed, bottled at 90 U.S. proof (45% alcohol by volume). There is a higher (101.5) proof brand, sealed with gold wax, previously marketed in the U.S. but now sent only to selected export markets. The seal on the bottle says "S IV". This mark indicates that the Samuels family (generation #4) is now in charge of the distilling process.
Maker's Mark enjoys something of a cult status in certain circles. For years it was marketed with the tag line, "It tastes expensive ... and is."
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The Loretto, Kentucky distillery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 1974, and designated a National Historic Landmark on December 16, 1980, listed as "Burks' Distillery". It was the first distillery in America to be so recognized, and the only one where landmark buildings are actively used for distilling. Maker's Mark distillery is on the American Whiskey Trail.
Today, Maker's Mark is owned by Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Fortune Brands, which acquired it from distillery giant UK-based Allied Domecq in 2005 (as well as Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Canadian Club whisky, Laphroaig single-malt Scotch and Clos du Bois wines) in a joint bid with French rival Pernod Ricard.
Interestingly, Maker's Mark is one of the only American made whiskies to be spelled in the traditional form, "whisky," as opposed to "whiskey." Technically, in United States law, the official American spelling is "whiskey," but an exception exists to allow it be spelled without an "e." Maker's Mark does this as an homage to the creators Scottish heritage.

Contents

Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge

In popular culture

External links

Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge

In addition to the distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, there is also a restaurant located in the Fourth Street Live! entertainment complex in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The lounge opened in October of 2004 with the grand opening of the Fourth Street Live! complex. It is decorated with backlit Maker's Mark bottles and the traditional Maker's Mark "wax" dripping from the ceiling. While the lounge focuses on Maker's Mark, it also features other bourbons from each of Kentucky's distilleries. The menu was designed by Chef Al Paris of the famous Zanzibar Blue restaurant in Philadelphia.

In popular culture

★ Local H released a song about Maker's Mark on their 2002 album ''Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles''. The song "Bufflo Trace" includes the lyrics "Eight hours to get to Heaven Hill
Head down - due south - past Louisville
Dont stop until the bourbon still
Parker says we can drink our fill"

★ Maker's Mark often appears in Sam Raimi films.

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★ In ''Spider-Man,'' Norman Osborn is shown drinking it right before he talks to himself in the mirror.

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★ In ''Spider-Man 2'' it can be seen when Harry Osborn is reaching for the dagger that he plans on using to kill Spider-Man.

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★ In ''Spider-Man 3'' a bottle of Maker's Mark is thrown into Harry's fireplace during the fight where Peter disfigures Harry.

★ In the 2005 film ''Elizabethtown,'' Claire Colburn (played by Kirsten Dunst) is wearing a poppy-colored t-shirt with the Maker's Mark logo.

★ In Lil Wyte's song ''F
★ cked Up'' and in Three 6 Mafia's ''Roll With It'', Maker's Mark is used in a line by Juicy J.

★ In the Bouncing Souls song "Lean on Sheena" off The Gold Record, they use the following line:
"Better yet, don't forget, leave the keys on the t.v. set
Hoping you're gone for the corner bar
Here we are after dark
Knocking back the Maker's Mark
Scrounging up the dollars from my buddy's car"

★ Australian rock band You Am I released an acoustic version of their song "Jaimmes Got A Girl" as a b-side on their Berlin Chair single. They named the version "Jaimme (Markers Mark Version) after discovering the whiskey while on tour in the United States.

External links

★ Maker's Mark Official Website

★ The Whisky Portal

★ National Historic Landmark Program: Burks' Distillery