Maker’s Mark Just Dropped Its First Non-Bourbon, Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whiskey

(Photos: Maker’s Mark)

On Tuesday, Maker’s Mark surprised bourbon fans across the country with the debut of Star Hill Farm Whisky, the distiller’s first new mashbill and first wheat whisky ever. It’s promised to be the inaugural release in an annual series, each iteration of which will explore differences in soil, wheat, water and wood in years to come.

Unlike standard Maker’s Mark, there isn’t a smidge of corn anywhere in the bottle. Instead, the distiller has opted for a blend of 7- and 8-year-old wheat whiskeys, one made from 70% soft red winter wheat and 30% malted barley and the other from 100% malted soft red winter wheat.

Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Dr. Blake Layfield says to expect aromas of buttery caramel, golden raisins and gingerbread followed by a bright palate of honeyed toffee, chocolate-covered cherries and a hint of apple pie spice. The expression is bottled at a cask-strength 57.35% ABV and is slated to hit shelves by mid-May at a suggested retail price of $99.99.

“Guided by our founders’ pursuit of excellence and a higher purpose, we are proud to share Star Hill Farm Whisky with the world — a 10-year journey to unlock nature’s depth of flavor, resulting in something new from the Maker’s Mark Distillery,” Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whiskey maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark, remarked in a news release.

The first thing you’ll notice about the bottle is that it looks nothing like the classic short-and-stout Maker’s Mark silhouette. There isn’t even a red wax drip — slam dunk hunters be damned.

The change in packaging mirrors a change in messaging, one that future releases in the series plan to highlight front and center. Star Hill Farm Whisky will be the first expression in the Maker’s Mark portfolio to boast an Estate Whiskey certification, a new designation from The Estate Whiskey Alliance that aims to highlight single-estate sourcing. In the case of Star Hill, the entirety of the masbhill was harvested from the 1,100-acre farm that surrounds the Maker’s Mark distillery.

Maker’s Mark — the first bourbon distillery to achieve a B Corp Certification in Kentucky — says it’s the beginning of a new era.

“The launch of Star Hill Farm Whisky will expand our platform to advance regenerative agriculture beyond our business, fostering a more sustainable future for our industry, people and planet,” Samuels added.