Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Maker's Mark is a renowned Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, celebrated for its smooth, full-bodied flavor and distinctive hand-dipped red wax seal. Established in 1953 by T. William "Bill" Samuels Sr. and his wife Margie in Loretto, Kentucky, the brand was born out of a desire to create a bourbon that was gentler and more refined than the rye-heavy styles of the time. Bill Samuels Sr. experimented with various mash bills, ultimately selecting a blend that excluded rye in favor of soft red winter wheat, resulting in a sweeter and smoother profile. This innovative approach led to the introduction of Maker's Mark in 1959, with its unique red wax seal becoming an iconic symbol of the brand. Over the years, Maker's Mark has undergone several ownership changes. In 1981, it was acquired by Hiram Walker & Sons, which was subsequently acquired by Seagram in 1987. Following Seagram's collapse in 2001, Allied-Domecq took ownership, and after its acquisition by Pernod Ricard in 2005, the brand was sold to Fortune Brands, a company based in Deerfield, Illinois. In 2011, Fortune Brands split into two entities: Beam Inc., which later merged with Suntory Holdings in 2014, forming Suntory Global Spirits. As of 2026, Maker's Mark is owned by Suntory Global Spirits, a leading global spirits company headquartered in Japan. The distillery continues to operate in Loretto, Kentucky, where it produces its signature bourbon, maintaining traditional methods such as hand-dipping each bottle in red wax and aging the bourbon to taste, not time.