Makers Mark Bourbon Whisky & Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Bundle Buy (2 x 700ml)

Buy Makers Mark Bourbon & Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon together and save $47.99!

Notes on Elijah Craig Small Batch... Citing a surge in popularity and supply not meeting demand, in early 2016 Heaven Hill removed Elijah Craig's 12 year old age statement. The core whiskey has since been re-labelled “Small Batch" and at the time of writing is imported into Australia in two variants: One bottled at a proper ABV of 47%, and more recently, this cheaper entry-level edition bottled at a mild 40% ABV. Typically made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley, rumour has it this contains a fair proportion of whiskeys in the 8-12 year old range.

Notes on Makers Mark... Labelled as 'whisky,' (the scotch spelling) rather than 'whiskey' (because the owners and their forebears are Scottish), the Maker's Mark brand leapt out of obscurity in 1980 after the Wall Street Journal published a front page story on the history of the distillery. Suddenly everyone wanted to try it. Unfortunately, they were only producing 38 barrels a day - as opposed to the then industry standard of 1,300 barrels a day. Small production remained the key to the brands success. Since 1953 the Samuels had been steadfast in the belief that making small batches using winter wheat instead of rye would produce a better product. Apparently they were correct. As Michael Jackson puts it in his World Guide to Whisky, '"The defining smoothness is achieved, arguably, at the expense of some flavour because Maker's Mark eschews rye in favour for wheat with which to season the palate. This is an accepted alternative way of producing bourbon but few distillers pursue it; Old Fitzgerald is a notable example."

Furthermore, Maker's Mark use an old roller mill instead of a more modern and efficient hammer mill to cook the grain because they feel it is less likely to scorch and impart bitterness. They also don't use a pressure cooker to speed up the process, instead preferring an open cooker which allows more aromatics from the air about to penetrate the mash. At first the barrels are placed on the upper hotter floors of the warehouses. Then after several summers they are moved down to the lower, cooler stories.

The brand's distinctive vessel and trademarked dripping red wax seal is said to have been inspired by a collection of cognac bottles. The distillery itself, dating back to 1889, has been fully restored by Bill Samuels Senior and is now a National Historic Landmark. The whisky is aged for 6-7 years (according to the company) and is produced from a mashbill of 70% Corn, 16% Wheat and 14% Malted Barley. It was summed up by breakingbourbon.com as "A consistently solid bourbon that’s readily available at an affordable price point, leaning into the sweeter side of the flavour spectrum."

Other reviews... The original Maker's Mark, tried and true, and the same since the 1950s. The nose is consistent with a flare on the floral, toffee and caramel, roasted almonds, and loads of vanilla. Just when you think you've tasted this a million times, it offers candied fruit and pie crust with the final touches of praline and a hint of pecan shell. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com

Rich, brilliant amber hue. Sweet caramel, pecan pie, and brown spice aromas have a perfumed fruity edge. A silky enty leads to a dry medium-to full-bodied palate with rich roasted nuts, salt, dried fuits, dark caramel, tea leaves, and pepper spice. Finishes with a bold but balanced wave of heat and spice. Very nice. International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal 90 points (Exceptional) -  tastings.com

Nose: Aroma with delightful strands of exotic fruit and honey. Fruit cake. Oak adds to feeling of class. Palate: Lush, pleasingly deep and malty. A firm nuttiness adds extra oily, chewability to the toffee. Finish: Drier than of old. Caramel toffee with the oak guarantees a bittersweet edge. Comment: An old faithful of a bourbon. Never lets you down and being from the wheaty school always shows good oak balance. Nose is to die for. Rating: 8.5