Maker's Mark Ambassador Barrel

Special ambassador label

When we visited the Maker's Mark Distillery in May 2011 Emily and I decided to become Ambassadors. This gets us on the mailing list including a nice gift each year at Christmas for our Maker's Mark bottles. It also gets our names placed on a newly distilled barrel of Maker's Mark with an invitation to come to the distillery in a few years once the bourbon is sufficiently aged. 

Bill Samuels Jr.

This spring I happily received my "golden ticket" to come to Loretto, Kentucky to take a special heritage tour and to purchase and wax seal bottles from our barrel. After checking calendars and plans I invited my good friend, Rex Dillinger, to be my guest for the day at the distillery.

Ambassador seal in wax

We spent the night at our home in Georgetown before rising early to get some breakfast followed by a stop at Frank's Donuts.  We drove through the beautiful Kentucky countryside on a nice spring day toward Maker's Mark.  We were at the distillery in plenty of time for our 10 am tour and visited with several other guests who were also ambassadors whose barrels were being opened at about the same time as mine. 
What we didn't know is that our tour leader would be Bill Samuels, Jr., CEO of Maker's Mark and son of the founders of the brand.  We found Bill to be a great host with interesting stories of how is parents built the distillery following the repeal of prohibition including throwing out the recipe for the family's T. W. Samuels bourbon and starting over with a new recipe for a wheated bourbon.  Even the unique bottle and logo designs came from Bill's mother who had a vision for what Maker's Mark could become.  

Steve with Bill Samuels, Jr.

We were fascinated to learn that some of Samuels' ancestors were part of the gang that traveled with the James brothers.  In addition, some of his ancestors were part of the renegade guerrilla army led by William Quantrill during and after the American Civil War.  Bill told us that when Quantrill's men finally surrendered they chose to hand over their weapons in his family's living room.  He still has a pistol from the surrender which may have been the last weapon confiscated after the Civil War.  We were also interested in the cast of characters that frequented his home when he was a child.  Julian (Pappy) Van Winkle and Col. Harland Sanders were frequent guests and his godfather was Jim Beam.  

Barrels of Maker's Mark 46 receiving secondary aging

Bill took us through the fermentation vats and to the giant stills producing Maker's Mark.  In the bottling room his told us about how his parents struggled to get a wax for sealing the bottles that was just right.  As with other tours of Maker's Mark or any other distillery, the last stop is usually the tasting room.  The difference this time is that Bill shared how he oversaw the development of Maker's 46 which is secondarily aged with staves of French oak.  We also heard how he likes to drink his bourbon.  While all bourbon must be sold at least 80 proof, Bill says that he thinks that the flavors are best at around 70 proof so he adds a little water or ice.  He told us that high alcohol content will anesthetize the taste buds and prevent getting the full flavor profile of good bourbon.  
We enjoyed the generous samples of Maker's, Maker's 46 and cask strength versions of each as we listened to Bill's captivating stories of a lifetime in the bourbon industry.  

Steve dipping the top of an ambassador bottle in wax.

After our tastings, Rex and I picked up the bourbon from my barrel and dipped them in the characteristic red wax with assistance from the staff at the visitor center.  Because the bottles came from a special ambassador barrel, we were able to stamp the top of the wax with a special seal.  I picked up enough of the bottles for everyone back home including 4 for Cindy to take back to Oregon.