The Keepers Release celebrates the distillery warehouse team members who still rotate each and every barrel of Maker’s Mark by hand.
Maker’s Mark has unveiled the latest iteration of its Wood Finishing Series, The Keepers Release 2025, which celebrates the brand’s warehouse team. This new release honors the team responsible for ensuring that every barrel of Maker’s Mark bourbon matures to the founders’ taste standards. Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whiskey maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark, emphasized the importance of the warehouse team, noting, “We are delighted to introduce this latest Wood Finishing Series expression that celebrates the team who still rotate each and every barrel of Maker’s Mark by hand.”
The Wood Finishing Series is known for its unique use of a wood stave-finishing technique, which enhances the flavor profile of Maker’s Mark bourbon. The Keepers Release 2025 boasts a rich, oak-forward aroma with notes of seasoned wood, brûléd sugar, and tobacco. This complex Jose leads to a smooth finish with hints of dried dark fruit and roasted sweetness, creating a lingering, flavorful experience.
Dr. Blake Layfield, Maker’s Mark’s Master Distiller, shared that The Keepers Release was developed in close collaboration with the warehouse team. “The sensory experience of Maker’s Mark is unlike anyone else’s — the aromatic oak at different times of the day, evolving tasting notes of our whisky as it ages over multiple seasons,” Layfield explained. This unique partnership influenced the development of the release’s distinct flavor profile.
The Keepers Release 2025 has an ABV of 54.6% (109.2 proof) and will be available for $74.99 at U.S. retailers starting today. For additional information, visit www.MakersMark.com.
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