Maker's Mark: Bucking Trends for 60 Years (WhiskyCast Episode 776: July 14, 2019)

60 years ago, Bill and Marge Samuels dipped the first bottles of
Maker's Mark Bourbon in Loretto, Kentucky. They left the "e" out
of "whisky" and shipped the first cases to Keeneland in
Lexington. When Maker's Mark finally decided to start a private
barrel program several years ago, Bill Sr. and Marge's grandson
Rob decided to put a different spin on the concept and let their
customers actually create a unique Bourbon instead of picking
from a bunch of cask samples. Keeneland was first in line for a
Private Select bottling, too, and we'll get the story behind the
program from Jane Bowie of Maker's Mark on WhiskyCast In-Depth.
In the news, we have the cause - and the effect - of the Jim Beam
rickhouse fire in Kentucky earlier this month, and we'll also
explain just how whiskey spills near rivers can lead to thousands
of dead fish. The Scotch Whisky Association is taking a Virginia
distillery to court over its use of the word "Highland" on its
labels, and we'll have the details along with tasting notes for
two of the offending whiskies.