Maker's Mark 'San Diego Barrel Boys' Private Selection Bourbon Whiskey
54.4% ABV (108.8 proof) | 750mL | Private Selection: 10 custom oak staves, ~10 weeks | Loretto, Kentucky — This Maker's Mark Private Selection bourbon was hand-picked by the San Diego Barrel Boys — a local bourbon enthusiast group — using the distillery's "choose your own recipe" finishing program, the same method Bill Samuels Jr. used to create Maker's 46.
Ten custom oak finishing staves are added to a full barrel of standard Maker's Mark cask-strength bourbon, which then rests about 10 weeks in the distillery's limestone cellar. This barrel's recipe: 3 Baked American Pure (vanilla, warmth), 2 Seared French Cuvée (deep, dark), 0 Maker's 46, 2 Roasted French Mendiant (chocolate, coffee), and 3 Toasted French Spice (spice, sweetness) — a vanilla- and spice-leaning profile at a bold 108.8 proof. Hand-dipped red wax seal, as always — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Tasting notes
Stave recipe (per Del Mesa's page): 3 Baked American Pure, 2 Seared French Cuvée, 2 Roasted French Mendiant, 3 Toasted French Spice. Expect vanilla, caramel, and spice character — vanilla/warmth and spice/sweetness lead, with chocolate and coffee depth.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- San Diego Barrel Boys pick — selected by a local bourbon group, exclusive recipe
- 108.8 proof — full barrel-strength Private Selection (program runs 108–114)
- 10 custom finishing staves, ~10 weeks in the limestone cellar — the Maker's 46 method
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat first to taste the stave recipe at full strength, then a few drops of water to open the vanilla. Over a large cube for long sipping.
Frequently asked questions
What is Maker's Mark Private Selection?
The distillery's single-barrel finishing program: you choose a recipe of 10 oak staves across five types, added to a full barrel of cask-strength Maker's for about 10 weeks of extra finishing.
What is this barrel's stave recipe?
3 Baked American Pure, 2 Seared French Cuvée, 0 Maker's 46, 2 Roasted French Mendiant, 3 Toasted French Spice — a vanilla- and spice-forward profile.
Who are the San Diego Barrel Boys?
A San Diego-area bourbon/whiskey enthusiast group that selects store-pick barrels (this one, plus picks like "La Jolla Cove" and "Coronado Bay Bridge").
