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Maker's Mark
Founded
1889
Region
Kentucky, USA
Status
Operational
Company
Production type
Bourbon Whiskey
Former name
Burks' Spring
The Maker's Mark distillery is located in Loretto, Kentucky and is the production facility for the globally-renowned bourbon brand of the same name. It was founded by T. William "Bill" Samuels Snr, who had originally intended to retire from the whiskey business after selling his family's T.W. Samuels distillery and brands to Country Distillers Products in 1942. However, Samuels had long-harboured a dream of marketing a wheat recipe bourbon and after consulting with industry legends such as Hap Motlow of Jack Daniel's, Ed Shapira of Heaven Hill, and the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle I, he fixed on a recipe and acquired the 200-acre plot of land that housed the run-down Burks Spring distillery in Loretto in 1953. After renovations, production began the following year.
The distillery and brand were sold to Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts in 1981, with a series of acquisitions seeing it eventually become part of Beam, Inc in 2011. It is today one of the American whiskey holdings of Suntory Global Spirits.
The first run of Maker's Mark bourbon was bottled in 1958 using what has become its trademark dripping red wax seals. The name of the brand was inspired by Bill Samuels' wife Margie's English pewter collection and the manufacturer stamps featured on them. She created a mark of her own for the whiskey, containing a star to represent the Star Hill Farm, an "S" to represent the Samuels family name, and a "VI" for its fourth generation, Bill.
The core range Maker's Mark product is unchanged to this day, a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 90 US proof (despite a brief flirtation with reducing it to 84 proof by Beam, Inc. in 2013). Some export markets are provided with a lower strength version, however. This is joined by No.46, batches of its Cask Strength release and the 101 Special Proof alongside various regular limited editions.
Current owner
Maker's Mark Distillery
3350 Burks Spring Road
Loretto
KY 40037
USA
1889
1953
1954
1958
1974
1980
1981
1985
1987
2001
2005
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2018
The Burks Spring distillery is built by George R. Burks in Loretto, Kentucky.
Bill Samuels Snr acquires a 200-acre plot of land that includes Burks Spring distillery on 1st October.
The first nineteen batches of Maker's Mark are distilled in February.
The first bottles are filled on 8th May and sold in September.
The distillery is added to the National Register of Historic Places on 31st December.
The distillery is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The distillery and brand are sold to Hiram Walker & Sons.
The dripping wax seals used on Maker's Mark bottles are registered as US trademark 73526578.
Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts is acquired by Seagram.
Seagram collapses and its American whiskey interests are picked up by Allied Domecq.
Allied Domecq becomes part of Pernod Ricard and Maker's mark is sold to Fortune Brands.
Fortune Brands is carved up and its spirits interests become Beam, Inc.
Backlash over a proposal to reduce the proof of the classic Maker's Mark bottling from 90 to 84 US proof results in a U-turn on the decision.
Suntory Holdings acquires Beam, Inc and renames it Beam Suntory as its US-based division.
Cask Strength batch release is launched as a distillery exclusive.
Distillery expansion plans are announced by Beam Suntory.
Cask Strength is launched to global markets.
Legendary master distiller Dave Pickerell passes away.
101 Special Proof is launched to travel retail.
Active brands
Bourbon Whiskey
