Maker’s Mark FAE-01 – Wood Finishing Series

A part of Maker’s Mark’s Wood Finishing series, Maker’s Mark FAE-01 is their spring expression for 2021, and the latest in a line of annual releases focused on unique aspects about Maker’s Mark.  Sometimes affectionately referred to as the “license plate” series due to their name, the 2021 releases chose to focus on unique elements that make Maker’s – Maker’s.

• FAE-01 aims to highlight the barrel extraction flavors found in Maker’s Cask Strength
• FAE-02 aims to highlight the textural notes and smooth mouthfeel elements of Maker’s Mark.

Maker’s Mark FAE-01

Maker’s Mark FAE-01 is produced starting from fully matured Maker’s Mark Cask Strength.  Once fully matured, 10 virgin toasted American Oak Staves were added.  Maker’s notes that these staves were only toasted on one side to help emphasize the smell of the barrel warehouse.   They do not specify the additional aging time with these staves.

• Age: NAS
• Proof: 110.3 (55.15% ABV)
• Finishing:  10 Virgin Toasted American Oak Staves

This is the third expression in their Wood Finishing series, which starts in 2019 with a single release (RC6), and was followed in 2020 with a second release (SE4xPR5).  2021 marked the first year with a spring and fall offering.

It also has the hardest cork to reinsert of any bottle I’ve ever owned.   However, it definitely seals well.

Sight:  A happy tawny.

Smell:  Big bursts of cherries erupt, ranging the gamut from fresh and juicy to candied to dried.   Elements of vanilla, caramel, and light oak charred wrap around them.  Other notes of stone fruit, candied berries, and tobacco come through.   There’s hints of heat and random pops of spice.  The nose feels rich and thick despite the bursts of ethanol.

Sip:  The mouthfeel is instantly thick and rich.  The start has a nice sweetness and the preserved cherry notes, coffee, espresso, and caramels come out immediately.  It evolves somewhat rapidly, building in levels of heat, but also extracting more roasted oak, tobacco, plenty of spice, and more stone fruit.  There’s even a little hint of orange zest,  banana, and clove.    As it build, it maintains it’s richness, but gets aggressively heavy and hot.

Savor:  The finish is oaky with a slight creaminess and plenty of cherries and fruit.  One of the impressive things is the length.  As it lingers, it brings in more roasted oak notes, plum skins, and cigar box.  There’s even a bit of dark roast going on.

Maker’s Mark FAE-01 is rich, smooth, and more than a little high strung.    The flavor profile is really delightful and Maker’s hits there goal of delivering additional mouthfeel.    The richness on the palate is really unparalleled by their standard offering.  The flavors really delight the fruitiness of the whiskey while giving a lot of room to the American oak.   The only down side is the proof of 110.3 here really comes across in every last point of proof.  Don’t take too big a sip or hold it too long, and this shouldn’t be a huge issue.

In Cocktails

In all likelihood, you aren’t using Maker’s Mark FAE-01 to make drinks.  If you end up finding yourself so compelled though, you’ll find that FAE-01 works well enough, adding caramel and cherry bursts between notes of spice and oak.  There’s a bit of char that pervades on the finish.  While the flavors are pleasant, and the Manhattan is good, with a bit of a honeyed note, this clearly doesn’t feel like the best use of this whiskey.

In Review – Maker’s Mark FAE-01

Maker’s Mark FAE-01 is really quite good, and priced fairly at $60.  The mouth feel is really the highlight here, and the value is in savoring on it’s own.  While it doesn’t make a bad drink, you could make an equally good drink with a cheaper bottle – like their Maker’s Mark Cask Strength.  Based on this, and the fact that this was a one time allocated release, we recommend this bottle for bourbon enthusiasts, but doesn’t need a place on your home shelf.