The Basics: 

Maker’s Mark Distillery

110.3 proof

2021 Limited Release

NAS

$60 MSRP

Nose:

Bright red fruits, brown sugar, butter, powdered sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon rolls.

Palate: 

Burnt marshmallow, raspberry tart, molasses, spicy cinnamon Red Hots, and snickerdoodle cookie

Finish:

Medium finish with heavy oak, cherry, nutmeg, and chai tea.

Final Thoughts:

With the latest expression in the Maker’s Mark limited release series, the 2021 FAE-01 does not disappoint. The back label specifically describes this whiskey as fruit forward with a focus on barrel extractives, which could not be more spot on. There are the classic notes that you expect to find in any Maker’s Mark product, including nutmeg, sweet cinnamon rolls, and brown sugar. However, the virgin oak staves used in the second maturation amplify all of these flavors, while also adding in spicy cinnamon and burnt marshmallow. Raspberry rounds out the whiskey with a nice tart fruit punch to cut through the otherwise baking spice dominant flavors. While the 2020 release remains my favorite of the limited release line, to summarize, it’s delicious… BUY IT!