2025 Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 'The Lost Recipes' No. 02 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 700ml

2025 Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 'The Lost Recipes' No. 02 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky is a robust 110.9 proof (55.45% ABV) cask-strength craft spirit representing the highly anticipated second chapter of the distillery's archival exploration lineup. Packaged in a sleek 700ml bottle format, this rare expression originates from the Wood Finishing Series. It serves as a liquid resurrection of flavor profiles that were previously retired or never commercially produced, offering collectors and high-end whiskey enthusiasts a masterfully constructed, dessert-forward pour that highlights Maker's Mark's legendary innovation in wood science.

The core ethos and unique value of this bottling rely on its hyper-specific, custom secondary aging architecture rather than an altered baseline mash bill. Maker's Mark utilizes its fully matured, cask-strength wheated bourbon before inserting an engineered 10-stave combination into the barrel for extra maturation. For this No. 02 edition, the wood-finishing team turned its spotlight to the rare, discontinued Roasted French Mocha stave, creating an incredibly rich, deep profile. By hand-selecting a specific multi-stave blueprint, the distillery balances the heavy dessert qualities of French oak with structural elements that ensure no two releases in this sub-series ever share the same traits.

The liquid architecture inside the vessel honors the meticulous, time-tested production principles established by the Samuels family at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky. While the overwhelming majority of traditional Kentucky bourbons utilize sharp, peppery rye grains as a flavoring agent, Maker's Mark completely replaces it with a wheated mash bill consisting of 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, and 14% malted barley. Bypassing the aggressive grain heat of rye provides a naturally smooth, sweet-leaning baseline. This non-chill filtered small batch relies on a hand-picked finishing kit featuring exactly three Baked American Pure 2 staves, four Maker's Mark 46 staves, and three Archived Roasted French Mocha staves.

The whiskey’s complex tasting profile opens on a vibrant, highly inviting nose filled with rich caramel, dark cocoa, fresh roasted coffee beans, and warm oak, beautifully lifted by baked orchard fruit and soft cinnamon spice. The palate delivers an incredibly balanced, full-bodied mouthfeel displaying prominent layers of bold espresso, sweet molasses, toasted almonds, and pastry, which seamlessly coat the tongue alongside a creamy wheated sweetness. The journey concludes on a clean, smooth, and long finish where trailing notes of dark mocha, seasoned wood, and a final whisper of vanilla bean linger gracefully across the tongue.

For high-end spirits collectors, this 'The Lost Recipes' No. 02 edition represents an increasingly scarce trophy bottle that delivers exceptional small-batch value. Because these specialized wood-finished allocated editions are distributed in limited outruns and feature a retired stave configuration that cannot be reordered in standard Private Selections, finding a bottle adds an invaluable pillar to any premier whiskey vertical. It occupies an exalted slot within the Maker's Mark historical portfolio, tracking far beyond standard core expressions as a definitive piece of modern bourbon innovation.

• Size: 700ml
• Proof: 110.9 Proof (55.45% ABV)
• Age: NAS (Fully matured cask-strength standard base)
• Origin: Loretto, Star Hill Farm, Kentucky, USA
• Distillery: Maker's Mark Distillery (Suntory Global Spirits)
• Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky (Wheated Mash Bill)
• Cask/Cooperage: Fire-charred New White American Oak, finished with 10 custom wood staves
• Bottling: Limited Edition Small Batch Release; Non-Chill Filtered
• Series: Wood Finishing Series / 'The Lost Recipes' Sub-Series (Edition 02)
• Selection: Engineered using 3 Baked American Pure 2 staves, 4 Maker's Mark 46 staves, and 3 Roasted French Mocha staves
• Tasting Notes: Nose: Rich caramel, dark cocoa, roasted coffee beans, warm oak, baked orchard fruit, and cinnamon spice. Palate: Full-bodied and creamy with bold espresso, molasses, toasted almond, sweet pastry, and signature wheated smoothness. Finish: Long and warming with trailing mocha, seasoned wood tannins, and lingering vanilla bean.