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Maker’s Mark is aiming to capture the characters of two globally renowned cities with its new Wood Finishing Series.
Available exclusively in global travel retail, the Wood Finishing City Series launches with two expressions: the New York Edition and the Sydney Edition. To create the new whiskeys, Maker’s Mark recruited ‘city spirit guides’ to help hone the taste of each expression to reflect its namesake city – a model that will be replicated with subsequent releases in the City Series.
For the Maker’s Mark team, harnessing the individuality of cities was a fitting next step for the Wood Finishing Series, which itself celebrates the unique flavours and influences of different wood types on its bourbon.
The New York Edition was designed to capture “the excitement of your first trip to the city that never sleeps”. Created by flavour experts Erina Yoshida and Justin Ottevanger, Maker’s Mark says the 107.8-proof (53.9% ABV) bourbon is bold and complex with a long finish reminiscent of the Big Apple’s skyline.
The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series New York Edition is available at International Shoppes at JFK Airport Terminal 1 (RSP US$95).
Scott Halpern, co-CEO of International Shoppes, said: “International Shoppes is very proud that our JFK Terminal 1 property is home to this one-of-a-kind experience for the customers. The unit was quickly turned into a Maker’s Mark iconic location. As the terminal continues to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, this added terminal experience is reminding customers why NY is such a great place.”
The Sydney Edition was created with help from city insiders Sam Egerton and Jordan Toft. It is said by Maker’s Mark to pay homage to the city’s “vibrant people, culture and dynamic palate” with herbaceous notes and a fruit-forward profile, presented at 107.3 proof (53.65% ABV).
The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series Sydney Edition is available from Heinemann at Sydney Airport Terminal 1 (RSP AU$140).
George Tsoukalas, managing director of Heinemann Australia, said: “Heinemann Australia is very proud to have partnered with Beam Suntory on this experiential activation to offer the exclusive Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing City Series Sydney Edition for our American whiskey shoppers.”
Rob Samuels, chief distillery officer at Maker’s Mark, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to bring a taste of our distillery in Loretto, Kentucky to the Global Travel Retail market through the new City Series. Just as my grandparents sat down with a taste vision in mind when creating Maker’s Mark, partnering with Erina and Justin in New York and Sam and Jordan in Sydney to create bourbons that embodied their cities resulted in delicious new whiskies that are a true adventure of their own.”
For more information on Maker’s Mark, the largest distillery in the world to earn B Corporation Certification, please visit MakersMark.com.
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