Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, is releasing its oldest bourbon ever beginning on September 1, 2026, during Bourbon Heritage Month. Now in its fourth year, the Cellar Aged annual release showcases one of the distillery’s most mature blends to date, combining 11-, 12- and 14-year-old Maker’s Mark bourbons. Aged to taste, not time, this year’s release builds on the hallmark character of Cellar Aged, revealing new layers of depth, complexity and flavor through extended maturation.
“The limestone shelf that surrounds Star Hill Farm has shaped our bourbon from the very beginning, thanks to the innovative spirit of my grandparents, Margie and Bill Samuels Sr., who chose this land in 1953 for its exceptional water source and natural watershed,” said Maker’s Mark Distillery Eighth-Generation Whisky Maker and Managing Director Rob Samuels.
“Decades later, we made what some considered an unreasonable decision to build a LEED certified whisky cellar into that same limestone shelf, allowing us to extend maturation while preserving the balance that defines Maker’s Mark. This year’s Cellar Aged release is a testament to how our environment continues to shape the whisky’s final profile.”
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This is the same whisky cellar that opened in 2016 to age Maker’s 46, Bill Samuels, Jr. swan song release. The whiskey cellar is naturally cooled as it is built into the hillside on Star Hill Farm to maintain a consistent 50°F temperature or less year-round. The cooler temperatures allow the bourbon to continue to age while keeping the oak in balance during the extended maturation process.
Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged is Matured for Taste, Not Age
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Meticulously blended and bottled at cask strength of 112.1 proof (56.05% ABV), Cellar Aged 2026 brings together 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old and 18% 14-year-old bourbons to deliver a bourbon with remarkable richness.
“Cellar Aged represents our pursuit of flavor through patience, precision and a deep understanding of how bourbon evolves over time,” said Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller for Maker’s Mark. “After aging in our traditional warehouses, the bourbon spends additional time in our limestone cellar, where cooler maturation allows the fruit to shine while keeping the oak in balance.”
The whisky is unmistakably Maker’s Mark—rich and layered, opening with aromas of dark cherry, clove, vanilla bean and soft orchard fruit. On the palate, notes of honey, brown sugar and ripe plum give way to a warming, silky finish accented by almond, nutmeg and crisp green apple.
Maker’s Mark 2026 Cellar Aged Bourbon to be Released During Bourbon Heritage Month
Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026 will be available beginning September 1, 2026, at select U.S. retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $175 USD, followed by availability in the U.K., Germany, Korea, Japan, Australia, and Global Travel Retail later this year into 2027.
The Maker’s Mark Distillery will host a celebratory launch event ahead of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky, for ticketed guests ages 21 and older on September 10. Beginning on September 14, visitors can also experience an exclusive distillery tour that offers behind-the-scenes access to the Cellar Aged process.
Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world. In 1953, founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. broke from tradition—burning the family’s 170-year-old recipe to create a bold, balanced bourbon made with soft red winter wheat for signature sweetness and creaminess. From the start, the Samuels went to remarkable lengths to craft uncompromisingly delicious bourbon—a perfectly unreasonable spirit that endures today. Every bottle is still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand and every decision guided by the brand’s higher purpose.
Staying true to its founders’ vision, Maker’s Mark has expanded its portfolio with award-winning, super-premium expressions, including Maker’s Mark 46, Cask Strength, and Cellar Aged, as well as Private Selection, the brand’s custom barrel program. In 2025, the distillery debuted Star Hill Farm Whisky. Named World’s Best Wheat Whisky and the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification, Star Hill Farm Whisky inspired the Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance, a bold commitment to advance regenerative farming beyond its business.
Maker’s Mark is both B Corp and Regenified Certified – milestones driven by the sustainability leadership at Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, which strives to be the most endearing, culturally rich and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.
Learn more about Maker’s Mark Distillery.
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