Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, is entering year number three of its five year Wood Finishing Series plan. The original Wood Finishing Series focused on the production process while this new series focuses on the teams behind Maker’s Mark makers. Year one featured ‘The Heart Release’, year two featured ‘The Keeper’s Release” and now, in year three Maker’s is introducing ‘The Stewards Release’ an expression inspired by the distillery’s operations teams who guide the bourbon’s journey from first fermentation to final bottling.
Introducing Maker’s Mark ‘The Stewards Release’
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“From the beginning, Maker’s Mark has been guided by my grandparents’ pursuit of exceptional flavor and deep respect for everyone who makes our whisky—from our grain growers to those who barrel and bottle our bourbon,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director, Maker’s Mark. “We continue to honor our founders’ vision through the Wood Finishing Series, which showcases our innovative spirit, celebrates our quality and craftsmanship and recognizes the teams who make our whisky possible.”
‘The Stewards Release’ Tasting and Release Notes
The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series features one-of-a-kind expressions crafted using an innovative wood stave finishing technique that amplifies the distinctive characteristics of the brand’s signature bourbon. The Stewards Release 2026 opens with bright aromas evoking cherry pie and vanilla bean, layered with tasting notes of honey, toasted marshmallow and candied ginger, culminating in a vibrant finish marked by stone fruit and salted caramel.
Aroma – Bright, Cherry Pie, Vanilla Beans
Taste – Honey, Toasted Marshmallow, Candied Ginger
Finish – A vibrant forward finish with notes of stone fruit and salted caramel
Proof – Cask Strength
“Consumers today want exceptional whisky, but they’re also interested in the values behind the brand and the people who make it,” said Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller at Maker’s Mark. “Bartenders feel the same way. They want to know more about the process, the ingredients and the craftsmanship in what they pour. The Stewards Release brings that philosophy to life, inspired by the operational leaders at Star Hill Farm and the care that goes into every step of production.”
Name: Maker’s Mark ‘The Stewards Release’
No. 3 of 5: (One per year in a five-year series)
Staves: 10 Virgin Toasted American Oak Staves
Proof: 109.6 (59.4% ABV) or 113.3 (56.65% ABV)
The Stewards Release will be delivered in two batches: one at 109.6 proof (59.4% ABV) and the other at 113.3 proof (56.65% ABV). Both will be available at U.S. retailers with a suggested retail price of $74.99.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series II
No. 1: Wood Finishing Series is a collection of one-of-a-kind expressions that use an innovative wood stave-finishing technique to enhance distinctive characteristics already present in the brand’s iconic bourbon. ‘The Heart Release’ features 10 specially selected oak staves are used to create unique, limited edition expressions of Maker’s Mark.
Maker’s Mark Distillery Announces ‘The Heart Release’ – The 1st in a 5-Year Wood Finishing Series [VIDEO] Jun 2024
No. 2: The 2025 Wood Finishing Series focuses on the teams behind Maker’s Mark – The makers. These whiskies celebrate the unique role they play in delivering the Maker’s experience.
Maker’s Mark 2025 ‘The Keepers Release’ Features the Warehouse Team and 10 Virgin Oak Staves [VIDEO] Mar 2025
No. 3: For 2026, The Stewards Release celebrates the teams who oversee every step of our production process. Their attention to detail and meticulous care ensure excellence in everything from the initial liquid to the final bottling. This release is a tribute to the true “stewards” of the distillery.
No. 4 & 5: The 2027 and 2028 releases will celebrate another story from our people in Loretto, so keep an eye out for what’s to come.
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, its first-ever wheat whisky. Award-winning 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, inviting farms, bars and restaurants to join the movement.
Maker’s Mark is proud to be 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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