I've always had a soft spot for Maker's Mark. It's one of those bottles that taught me what bourbon could be — soft, approachable, wheat-forward instead of the rye-heavy punch you get from most Kentucky distilleries. So when I finally got my hands on the Cask Strength expression at 55.05% ABV, I wanted to see what happens when you strip away the water and let that famously gentle mashbill speak at full volume.
For anyone unfamiliar, Maker's Mark uses red winter wheat as its flavouring grain instead of rye. That's been their signature since Bill Samuels Sr. started the distillery, and it gives the whiskey a rounder, sweeter backbone. The Cask Strength version takes the same liquid and bottles it straight from the barrel without dilution. No water added, no adjustments. What you're getting is bourbon as the warehouse intended it.
At 55.05%, this is proper sipping strength. It's not trying to knock you sideways — plenty of cask strength bourbons push well past 60% — but there's a real authority here that the standard 45% bottle simply doesn't have. The wheat-forward profile means it carries that extra proof without becoming aggressive. It's muscular but not mean, if that makes sense.
This is a NAS (no age statement) release, which with Maker's Mark typically means the bourbon has been matured to a flavour target rather than a specific number of years. Given the distillery's track record, we're likely looking at somewhere in the ballpark of six to seven years, though they've never been ones to chase age statements for marketing purposes. What matters is the result in the glass, and at cask strength the oak influence and that signature sweetness are both amplified in a way that feels balanced rather than heavy-handed.
Tasting Notes
I don't have my detailed tasting notes to hand for this one, so I'll hold off on breaking down nose, palate, and finish in specifics. What I can say is that the overall profile sits firmly in classic wheated bourbon territory — expect richness, sweetness, and a warmth that builds slowly rather than hitting you all at once. The higher proof brings more texture and body than the standard expression, and there's a depth here that rewards patience.
The Verdict
At £70.50, this sits in a competitive space, but I think it earns its price. You're getting a genuine cask strength bourbon from one of Kentucky's most consistent distilleries, and the wheat-forward mashbill gives it a character that stands apart from the rye-heavy crowd. It's not the cheapest option on the shelf, but it's a bottle that punches above its weight in terms of quality and drinkability at proof. I'm giving it a 7.9 out of 10 — a genuinely good bourbon that delivers exactly what it promises, with enough depth to keep you coming back. It loses half a point only because, at this price, you're edging into territory where some seriously aged competition starts to appear.
Best Served
This is a natural Old Fashioned bourbon. That wheat sweetness at cask strength means you barely need any sugar — just a barspoon of rich demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, and a wide orange peel expressed over the glass. The higher proof stands up beautifully to dilution from the ice, so the drink evolves as you sip it. If you prefer it neat, add a few drops of water and give it a minute. The proof opens up considerably with just a touch of dilution, and you'll get more from it that way than trying to power through it straight from the bottle.
