When we considered putting oats in a Bourbon, our minds went to the chocolate oatmeal stouts we enjoyed in our brewing careers. Those rich stouts, and resultant, "Winter Whiskey," imbue our palates with the warmth and cheer of the season. Winter Whiskey is a Bourbon with the unique spice of raw and malted oats, backed by roasted cocoa notes of chocolate malt. It's quite a unique Bourbon, unlike anything we've ever made or tasted. The experience is something of a three-way conversation between the dry cocoa quality of the chocolate malt; a balanced amount of oak; and this unique spicy quality (sort of like kasha-style buckwheat, perhaps blueberry skin) quite distinct from that of rye. The finish dances away on the oaty spice, dusted with Belgian cocoa. Despite the suggestion of “chocolate” in the grains and the name, it never turns cloying, tending to delicate dryness.

The Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series returns with our anticipated Fall edition. Following up on spring's FAE-01, this fourth limited release from the series is here after a full year of wood experimentation. The result is a rich, wonderfully oaky bourbon. FAE-02 honors our signature whisky with a focus on mouthfeel and big, round woody notes. There's enough spice to give it body and balance but the luscious texture is what really stands out. Bottles of this rare bourbon will number in the precious few, so be on the lookout.