Maker’s Mark Private Select – Build-a-Bourbon Mayhem!
Bourbon Chaos
Welcome back to Tortured Bourbon, where Heather brings the metaphors and B brings the proof.
In this latest bourbon tasting adventure, we dove headfirst into the wild world of Maker’s Mark Private Select — a program that lets you customize cask-strength Kentucky bourbon using combinations of finishing staves. The result? A science experiment, a literary metaphor, a guitar solo in a bottle. In other words: chaos. Glorious, bourbon-fueled chaos.
🔥 What Is Maker’s Mark Private Select?
Maker’s Mark Private Select is the distillery’s answer to “what if you could build your own bourbon?” Using their uncut cask strength bourbon as the base, 10 custom finishing staves are added to the barrel, and the whiskey re-ages in a limestone cellar for nine weeks.
Your flavor toolkit
Baked American Pure 2 – vanilla, caramel, toasted oak
Seared French Cuvee – buttery and rich
Maker’s 46 – warm spice and oak backbone
Roasted French Mocha (retired) – espresso and cocoa
Roasted French Mendiant – nutty, fruity, chocolatey
Toasted French Spice – clove, gingerbread, pepper heat
There are 1,001+ combinations, each giving a unique twist to the signature smoothness of Maker’s Mark’s wheated bourbon.
🧪 The Bourbon Lineup
This is Episode 2 in our Maker’s Mark series, and it features four Private Select expressions—each clocking in above 108 proof and packing a punch:
Crisp Blossom (OHLQ – March 2021)
→ A spiced orchard pie of a pour, with Toasted French Spice and Cuvee leading the way.
Southern Charm (Ladies of the DCABC – Oct 2023)
→ A creamy dessert pour — crème brûlée in a Glencairn, thanks to five Cuvee staves.
WC B2 (Aug 2023)
→ Balanced and classic, with a solid oak backbone and a deceptively warm finish.
Pour House Society (Albemarle ABC – Aug 2024)
→ The mocha monster. Heavy on Roasted French Mocha and Maker’s 46, bringing all the dessert energy.
Each one sparked flavor debates, wild metaphors, and even a Frankenstein reference from B.
🎙 The Review & Rankings
We rated each bottle using the Tortured Bourbon scale:
Piddlin’ (don’t waste the Glencairn)
Bless Your Heart
That Dog Will Hunt
Hush Your Mouth
Cock of the Walk (top-shelf chaos)
Heather stayed literary. B stayed caffeinated. Bourbon stayed unpredictable.
📌 Why This Episode Matters
This episode shows that Maker’s Mark is more than red wax and smooth sips — it’s a canvas for flavor creativity. The Private Select program takes traditional bourbon and opens the door to nuance, complexity, and (let’s be honest) bourbon nerd insanity.
If you’re into flavor exploration, stave science, or just watching us go off the rails, this episode is for you.
📺 Watch the Full Review on YouTube
🔗 Click here to watch: Maker’s Mark Private Select – Build-a-Bourbon Mayhem!
💬 What’s Your Favorite Stave Combo?
Tell us in the comments:
What’s the best Private Select bottle you’ve tried?
What would your dream 10-stave recipe be?
Spoiler: B wants all mocha.
Heather says absolutely not.
🗝 Keywords:
bourbon tasting, bourbon review, Kentucky bourbon, Maker’s Mark whisky, Private Select, wheated bourbon, cask strength, stave finishing, build your own bourbon, bourbon chaos, Maker’s Mark Private Select review
