Sitting with friends at the Maker's Mark Bourbon House and Lounge on Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky and listening to the interesting tales of Maker’s Mark Bourbon have been among the best moments of my life. My Saturday afternoon could not be better as I sip the local bourbon, Maker’s Mark 46 that has a distillery in Loretto, Kentucky and is the oldest continuously run distillery. Interestingly this Kentuckian does not like playing by the rules and has its own mantra of success, which is rarely heard in these competitive days. They work on a simple principle ‘If it ain't broke, don't fix it’.

As other businesses were busy expanding their product lines in order to generate growth, Maker's Mark produced only one Bourbon for more than five decades. That is not all; mostly all Bourbons state that they are a "whiskey" and are spelt with an ‘e’. In case of Maker's Mark, ‘whisky’ is spelt without ‘e’ in a tribute to the Scottish spelling system. Maker’s Mark although made an exception by releasing a second Bourbon in 2010 called Maker’s Mark 46. However, they did not change the beloved spelling.

The bottles of both bourbons are almost identical with red wax dripping down the cork. The club too, where we were sitting, is decorated with backlit Maker's Mark bottles and the traditional Maker's Mark wax dripping from the ceiling. Though the lounge focuses mainly on Maker's Mark, it also features other bourbons from each of Kentucky's distilleries. Maker’s Mark 46 is aged a bit longer, about two or three months more than Maker’s Mark, inside barrels containing seared French oaks staves. The staves help in creating bolder and more complex flavor and at the same time eliminate the bitterness that can be found in whiskies when aged for a longer period of time.

As I had savored the original Maker’s Mark couple of times, I was anxious to know and feel the taste of the new version. I was confident it had to be good but was it better than the classic version? I could spot the difference the moment the alcohol was poured in my glass. The color was much redder than the original Maker’s Mark though the smell was exactly the same with sole addition of a lot more sweetness. I could smell cinnamon, clove, and allspice, which gave way to the signature vanilla and caramel notes of the Maker’s Mark. The smell of the wood lingers on for a while but is balanced and pleasing. The smell of this bourbon would be a great success if used as a men’s perfume.

After my first sip, I was convinced that I tasted a great bourbon. With 94 proof and 47 per cent ABV, the makers of Maker’s Mark have come out with a winner. On my first gulp, I found the mouth feel rich and creamy without a greasy or oily taste to it. My palette was showered with plenty of wonderful spice notes, which was followed by fresh warm caramels, honey, and red berries. I could also taste vanilla spice and a light dash of cinnamon sugar. The presence of charred oak was perfect as it balanced the sweetness.

I found when it came to finish the new version differed from the classic. The Maker’s 46 has a longer finish where big vanilla notes dominate and the burn passes before the flavor. It is spicier than the classic version and also comprises bitter taste, which though is not overpowering. I suspect that the bitterness is due to the high char stave soaking in the bourbon. This spirit not only can be a great drink on its own but will be equally hit if used in a cocktail as it has the perfect balance of spice and sweet. Overall I found the Maker’s Mark 46 to be better than its classic version, which was quite a surprise for me.

I was also told by the bartender that every bottle of Maker’s Mark is hand dipped in red wax, making no two bottles exactly alike and if I visit the distillery, I can dip my own bottle in the wax. Well this certainly will be on my ‘to do’ list during my next visit.