{"product_id":"makers-mark-stewards-release-wood-finishing-series-2026","title":"Maker's Mark The Stewards Release Wood Finishing Series 2026 750ml","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMaker's Mark The Stewards Release is the 2026 edition of the brand's Wood Finishing Series, honoring the distillery's operations teams who guide the bourbon's journey from first fermentation to final bottling at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky. This marks the third installment in the second Wood Finishing Series, a five-year journey following The Heart Release (2024) and The Keepers Release (2025).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTo create this release, fully matured cask strength Maker's Mark undergoes a secondary maturation with exactly 10 virgin oak staves inserted directly into the barrel, extracting concentrated wood sugars and tannins for a deeper, bolder profile while preserving the soft, red winter wheat smoothness that defines the brand. The expression is delivered across two batches at differing cask strength proofs, and each bottle is sealed with the iconic dripping red wax and signed by Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and grandson of the founders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDistillery: Maker's Mark, Star Hill Farm, Loretto, Kentucky\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTechnique: Secondary maturation with 10 virgin oak staves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eRelease: 2026 Wood Finishing Series, Code EBE-26\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eABV: Cask strength, 54.9-56.65% (109.8-113.3 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSize: 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eNose: Cherry pie, vanilla bean, honey, toasted marshmallow, and candied ginger\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003ePalate: Raw honey, sweet stone fruit, baking spices, and seasoned wood tannins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eFinish: Long and warming, with dark honey, cinnamon, and elegant oak\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eNon-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength, this annual, allocated release is a must-have for serious Maker's Mark collectors chasing each year's unique stave profile within the Wood Finishing Series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat does The Stewards Release taste like?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCherry pie and vanilla on the nose, with raw honey, stone fruit, and baking spice on the palate, finishing long and warm with dark honey and oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat makes this different from standard Maker's Mark?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt starts as fully matured cask strength Maker's Mark, then undergoes a secondary maturation with 10 virgin oak staves for a bolder, more concentrated profile at cask strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWho is this release named for?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt honors Maker's Mark's operations teams, the \"stewards\" who guide the bourbon from fermentation through bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maker's Mark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47426938994772,"sku":"MM-STEWARDS-2026-750","price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0657\/1691\/2212\/files\/Maker_sMarkTheStewardsReleaseWoodFinishingSeries2026.webp?v=1785231473","url":"https:\/\/estatesliquor.com\/products\/makers-mark-stewards-release-wood-finishing-series-2026","provider":"Estates Liquor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}