Maker's Mark Wood Finishing The Stewards Release 2026 Bourbon Whisky

Maker's Mark has spent years proving that wood stave finishing isn't a gimmick — it's a genuine craft tool for unlocking new dimensions in a great wheated bourbon. The Heart Release kicks off Chapter Two of their Wood Finishing Series, and this time the inspiration came from an unexpected place: the distillery team itself. Innovation blender Beth Buckner and her team asked the people who actually distill, barrel, and bottle the whiskey every day to describe what they smell and taste on the job — and built this release around their answers. The result is a bourbon that feels, appropriately, like it came from the inside out.

The flavor vision called for two types of virgin French oak staves — 10 of each — inserted into barrels for different durations: one batch for 5 weeks, another for 9, all finished in Maker's limestone cellar. The two batches were then blended and bottled at cask strength. The nose delivers muddled mint, honeycrisp apple, cinnamon, and honey, with gentle waves of toasted oak. The palate is richly coating — maple syrup, candied apple, and brown sugar cinnamon with a French toast quality. The finish closes on apple strudel, polished wood, anise, and a touch of leather.  At 111.7 proof, baking spices come alive with mocha, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove — exactly where wheated bourbon flexes hardest.

Limited, fairly priced, and made by the people who know this whiskey better than anyone.