We set out this morning to see Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace.
Between 1909 and 1911 this farm was purchased and the log cabin where Lincoln was born was secured. A nationwide fundraising drive was instituted and this memorial was built over the site of the original cabin.
Inside the memorial is the cabin…
It was the first “Lincoln Memorial”, predating the one in Washington, DC, by more than 10 years.
Several years later scientific dating was done on the logs, and they were determined to be from 1840; this is not the real original cabin where Lincoln was born. The National Park Service now calls it the “Symbolic Cabin”.
Real or not, it was a moving place…
We then moved on to someplace not quite so historic…
We did the usual tour – definition of Bourbon, the grains used in Makers Mark (about 70% corn, plus wheat and malted barley). They made a big deal about not using rye; when MM was started in 1953 most “bourbons” were rye whiskey. (Bourbon has been legally defined as being at least 50% corn since 1964…) We saw the mash cookers, the fermenting tanks, the column stills where the whiskey is distilled, and the pot still where it is distilled again…
The mash is fermented in cypress wood tanks – like giant hot tubs…
Other interesting factoids:
-MM is one of only a few distillers to use live yeast in the fermenting process
-When their first 5 year aged bourbon was released in 1958 it was the first “Premium” bourbon
-Barrels in the barrel houses (warehouses) are rotated after three years – 7th floor to 1st floor, 6th floor to 2nd floor, etc. And vice versa.
-The Barrel Houses are painted dark brown (almost black) to disguise the mold that grows everywhere around aging bourbon, as the evaporating liquid settles on the metal siding and provides a food source for the mold; the mold is harmless to just about everyone, but is unsightly and is a mess to clean…
-Average age when bottled is 6 1/2 years, but it is all done by tasting, not by age
-When they have 346 barrels ready to bottle they blend all the barrels to match the signature taste profile
-For over 50 years they made only one product – Makers Mark Straight Bourbon Whisky
-Today they also make a cask-strength bourbon; “46”, a super premium bourbon (more on this in a minute); and “Private Select” bourbon, a special, custom made version of 46 made specifically for certain bars, restaurants, and high-end liquor stores.
-Every bottle is hand-dipped in red wax
Next we went into the “46 cellar”…
This is where MM 46 is made via a special aging process… It is kept at 50 degrees because they have found that this aging process works best at the cooler temperature.
When a barrel is tasted and is deemed worthy of being made into 46 it is pulled out of the barrel house and brought here. The top of the barrel is removed and 10 French oak staves are inserted into the bourbon. The top is put back on and the bourbon is aged another 9 weeks…
The result is a super-premium bourbon with extra spicy notes from the French Oak… The name comes from the selection of the staves. Over 100 combinations of staves were tried, with different chars, different edges, different lengths. After extensive testing and tasting, combination #46 was deemed to be the best.
We then learned that super-good customers (bars, restaurants, liquor stores) have the opportunity to make their own version of MM46 – Private Select. They come here and select different combinations of staves, tasting the results until they get just the taste they want. Thereafter they can order this special recipe again and again to sell exclusively in their place of business. In the 10 years or so I have been ordering and buying Makers Mark I have never run into one of these special custom bottles…
But we were now ready for the tasting…
We tasted six glasses: MM White (un-aged whiskey), MM (regular), Cask strength (111 proof), MM46, and a Private Select made for the tasting room, and not available in any store… Also, in honor of the Kentucky Derby this week we also tasted MM Mint Julep – all mixed and ready to pour over ice…
My opinion?
MM White (un-aged whiskey): Terrible!
MM (regular): Always one of my favorites as a every day sipping bourbon
Cask strength (111 proof): A little too rough for my taste
MM46: Spectacular; a very special treat, very complex, and a joy to drink
Private Select: Also spectacular, very smooth, very nice finish
MM Mint Julep: Terrible – tasted like mint mouthwash or toothpaste
We were able to buy a few souvenir bottles… I had to have a bottle of Private Select…
And then we went to lunch…
The evening we had another GAM… And we had some quiet time…
And an enjoyable time was had by all…
Adventures in the Villa 