The first bourbon in our wood-finishing series, Maker's Mark 46® was created by Bill Samuels, Jr., to amplify the flavors he loves in Maker's Mark®. The innovative wood-stave-finishing process starts with fully matured Maker's Mark® at cask strength. Then 10 seared virgin French oak staves are inserted into the barrel and finish it for nine weeks in our limestone cellar. The result is Maker's Mark 46: bolder and more complex, but without the bitterness typical of longer-aged whiskies.