Maker's Mark Bourbon and Maker's Mark 46 — the flagship wheated bourbon and its premium secondary-finished expression, side by side in a single bundle from one of Kentucky's most recognized distilleries. Both expressions use Maker's Mark's winter wheat mashbill — the same wheated recipe that founder T. William Samuels Sr. chose in 1953 when he burned his family's old rye recipe and started over. Maker's Mark is the entry expression at 90 proof, soft and approachable. Maker's 46 takes the same bourbon and finishes it with seared French oak staves inserted directly into the barrel — adding caramel, vanilla, and spice depth without bitterness from tannins. What's Included Maker's Mark Bourbon 750ml — Wheated Kentucky straight bourbon, 90 proof. Sweet, soft, and approachable — caramel, vanilla, light grain, and the signature red wax dip. Maker's Mark 46 750ml — The same Maker's Mark bourbon finished with seared French oak staves, 94 proof. Richer caramel, more vanilla complexity, and added wood spice without the bitterness of longer barrel aging. Browse the full Maker's Mark collection at Wooden Cork. Frequently Asked Questions What does the French oak stave finishing do in Maker's 46? Seared French oak staves are inserted into the existing barrel for an additional finishing period. The searing caramelizes the wood sugars, which then leach into the spirit — adding depth of caramel, vanilla, and spice character without the bitterness that would come from extended barrel aging. It's the same concept as wine barrel finishing but applied inside an existing bourbon barrel. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does the French oak stave finishing do in Maker's 46?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Seared French oak staves inserted into the barrel caramelize wood sugars that leach into the spirit, adding caramel, vanilla, and spice depth without bitterness. Same concept as wine barrel finishing but inside an existing bourbon barrel."}}]}
