Maker's Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon Whiskey 2026
Maker's Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon Whiskey 2026 is the fourth annual release of the distillery's extra-matured bourbon program — a marriage of 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, and 18% 14-year-old wheated Kentucky straight bourbon, bottled at cask strength, 112.1 proof (56.05% ABV), in a 750mL bottle. After aging in traditional rickhouses, each component spends four to six more years in Maker's Mark's limestone cellar beneath Star Hill Farm, where the cool 50°F environment slows maturation so the fruit can shine while the oak stays in balance. Released September 1, 2026. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 112.1 proof (56.05% ABV), cask strength — 750mL
- Blend: 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, 18% 14-year-old wheated bourbon (highest share of 14-year stock in the series)
- Maturation: ~7 years in traditional rickhouses, then 4–6 years in the LEED-certified limestone cellar
- Origin: Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto, Kentucky — wheated mash bill (70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley)
- Release: fourth annual Cellar Aged; fourth annual release since the program's 2023 debut
Age, Held in Check by Limestone
It took Maker's Mark until 2023 — 65 years after the first bottle was filled — to release a bourbon aged beyond a decade, and Cellar Aged exists because of what Dr. Blake Layfield calls "patience, precision and a deep understanding of how bourbon evolves over time." The limestone shelf around Star Hill Farm, chosen by Bill Samuels Sr. and Margie Samuels in 1953 for its water, is now carved into a cool cellar that lets this bourbon mature years past the distillery's old ceiling without going woody. See more from Maker's Mark or explore the bourbon whiskey shelf.
Tasting Notes
Dark cherry, clove, vanilla bean, and soft orchard fruit on the nose; honey, brown sugar, and ripe plum across the palate; a warming, silky finish accented by almond, nutmeg, and crisp green apple (per the distillery).
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn to catch the cask-strength depth — a few drops of water open the orchard-fruit lift. This is a pour for slow evenings, not a mixer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages make up Cellar Aged 2026?
49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, and 18% 14-year-old bourbon — the largest share of the distillery's oldest stock used in the series to date.
What is the proof?
112.1 proof (56.05% ABV), bottled at cask strength.
What makes the cellar different?
The limestone cellar holds about 50°F year-round, far cooler than the rickhouses — slower maturation that keeps deep-aged bourbon balanced.
The distillery's oldest bourbon, taken further than ever — order Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2026 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.