Maker's Mark Private Selection Bourbon

The Private Selection is a programme where select partners are invited to purchase a barrel and explore their own, perfect, taste visions of Maker's Mark. Berry Bros. & Rudds' relationship with this Kentucky stalwart has seen the success of back-to-back exclusive Cellar Aged releases for BBR collectors, and this inaugural single barrel offering is the very first in a line of planned annual releases. As one of the original small batch Bourbons, Maker's Mark continually innovates upon its signature red winter wheat recipe with one-off limited editions. This is the 1st, limited edition Private Selection for Berry Bros. & Rudd. Their very own Family Barrel #1. The idea for this was first borne when Rob Samuels, current Managing Director of Maker's Mark and grandson of founder, Bill Samuels Sr., visited BBRs Napoleon Cellars to launch their Cellar Aged 2023. He was beyond charmed by the synergy between both family-run businesses, and with that, an invitation for an exclusive cask bottling was extended to Berry's. The blending team, comprising Rob Whitehead, longtime Spirits Buyer and Ned Rodger, ninth generation of the Berry family, then travelled to Kentucky for the creation of this Private Select, from mash to barrel. A compendium of ten staves were customised for the liquid, (Baked American Pure 2, Seared French cuvee, MM #46, Roasted French Mendiant & Spice) dialling in the precise characteristics Rob and Ned envisioned, resulting in a truly singular expression of Maker's Mark. Only 246 individually numbered, cask strength bottles were produced from this cask. Master Distiller Dr Blake Layfield sums it up fittingly, "This is the Berrys' perfect version of Maker's Mark".