Maker's Mark BRT-01 is the fourth release in the Wood Finishing Series, showcasing barrels from the hottest positions at the top of the rickhouse — where the most extreme temperature swings drive the most aggressive maturation. BRT stands for 'hand-barrel rotation,' and the 01 designation identifies barrels from the upper levels.
The American oak finishing staves — as opposed to the French oak used in BRT-02 — add a toasty, spicy character. The top-of-rickhouse barrels contribute more intense oak influence, and at 54.7% (109.4 proof), the result is a bold, spice-forward expression of the wheated Maker's base.
BRT-01 demonstrates how barrel position and wood type shape bourbon character. The same wheated recipe, matured in different rickhouse locations and finished with different stave types, produces notably different whiskeys. For drinkers interested in how the science of bourbon maturation works, BRT-01 is both educational and delicious.
