Maker'S

The current Maker's Mark grew out of the Samuels family business: William "Bill" Samuels Sr. purchased the production property that became the present site in 1953 and began early production in the following decade; the Maker's Mark brand was marketed from the mid-1950s. Over the years the brand has remained associated with the idea of handmade, small-batch bourbon; today it is part of the global group owned by Suntory (the international business resulting from the acquisition of Beam).

Production oriented toward hands-on craftsmanship and sensory consistency: every stage — from raw material selection to maturation and packaging — favors traditional methods, artisanal control and attention to the sustainability of the production site (Star Hill Farm). The bottle hand-sealed with red wax is an integral part of the brand identity.

Star Hill Farm, Loretto, Kentucky (United States). Distillery member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Wheated mash bill (use of soft red winter wheat alongside corn and malted barley), small-batch production, maturation in barrels with characteristic wood charring; typical manual operations include barrel rotation and hand-dipping wax on the bottles.

Aging in new charred American oak barrels; hands-on practices in the rickhouse (barrel rotation, 'aged to taste') and limited-run finishes or series with further wood/stave finishing for special editions.