Maker’s Mark is expanding its wood-finishing program with the launch of the World Wood Collection, a new Global Travel Retail-exclusive series exploring the influence of oak from around the world. The inaugural release, Expedition 01, marks the first Maker’s Mark whisky to feature Japanese Mizunara, French and American white oak finishes.
Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 Uses Three Oak Finishes
Expedition 01 brings together three oak finishes from three continents. Each whisky is individually finished before being blended into a single expression designed to highlight the distinct characteristics of each type of oak.
Japanese Mizunara oak contributes delicate floral notes and subtle umami complexity, while American white oak brings sweet vanilla, brightness and a rounded character. French oak adds warm baking spice, caramel richness and an elegant, lingering finish.
The World Wood Collection builds on Maker’s Mark’s wood-finishing approach introduced with Maker’s Mark 46. According to the brand, the collection reflects its view of oak as a key ingredient in whisky production and its continued investment in wood finishing and American white oak stewardship at Star Hill Farm.
“At Maker’s Mark, we celebrate bourbon as an agricultural product and the universe of flavor that can be unlocked through nature—water, wheat, oak and time,” said Rob Samuels, managing director and eighth-generation whisky maker. “That belief has long guided our commitment to sustainable forestry and to protecting the future of American white oak. Through intentional wood finishing, The World Wood Collection explores exceptional oak from around the world to create a whisky that expands the boundaries of flavor while staying true to our craft.”
World Wood Collection Debuts in Global Travel Retail
Expedition 01 is being offered exclusively through Global Travel Retail ahead of the 2026 holiday season. The release is bottled at 1 liter and 47.5% ABV and features premium packaging inspired by the distinctive grain patterns of the three oak species used in the expression.
“Expedition 01 represents the kind of premium, story-driven whisky experience that resonates with today’s global travelers,” said Vanessa Widmann, managing director for Global Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits. “With its exclusive availability in Global Travel Retail, distinctive oak-forward story and premium presentation, it offers travelers a rare opportunity to discover a truly unique expression from Maker’s Mark — one that celebrates craftsmanship, exploration and the influence of exceptional oak.”
Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 Arrives at Five Airports
Expedition 01 is available beginning October 6 at Avolta retail outlets in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, London Heathrow, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, Perth and Bengaluru. The limited-edition expression carries a suggested retail price of $84.99.
The World Wood Collection represents another expansion of Maker’s Mark’s wood-finishing program, using oak from Japan, France and the United States to create a single expression built around the distinctive characteristics of each wood.
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