Whisky Ratings: Maker's Mark Cellar Aged, Ezra Brooks Rye, Old Elk Port Finish, and More

Here's a new crop of reviews that include two classically styled bourbons and two finished bourbons, along with an American single malt from Triple Eight Distillery on Nantucket, which has a loyal following. But leading the way is the long-awaited Maker's Cellar Aged, an aged expression of Maker's that will be an annual release going forward. Full writeups on all these whiskies will appear in the Fall issue of Whisky Advocate's Buying Guide.

94 Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2023 Release, 53.8%, $150

Maker’s finally releases an aged expression, and it’s a winner. The extra aging was done in a new cellar built inside a limestone hill near its distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. As everyone had hoped, it carries that Maker’s profile but with lots of aged accents, depth, and complexity. Tasting notes: Blackberry and black cherry pudding, cooked cherries, spiced but mellow, creme brulée, and light nuttiness, as well as tobacco leaf and orange peel.

93 Ezra Brooks 2 year old Straight Rye, 49.5%, $25

A young, dynamic rye from the Ezra Brooks label, which is part of the Lux Row division of MGP and has been produced at Lux Row Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, since 2018. Tasting notes: Fresh grains, grape jelly, orange slices, honeysuckle, menthol, and pepper spice. Expansive and well-spiced on the palate, packs a punch, and has a long finish.

93 The Notch 15 year old American Single Malt, (Batch 2), 48%, $500

Triple Eight Distillery is located next door to sister company Cisco Brewers on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and makes a variety of other spirits as well. Tasting notes: Fresh mint and pine, jammy, gooey grape, melon, honey, and spice, soapiness from the sherry maturation. The finish is long and tasty, with lots of spice, sweetness, complexity, and a bit of pepper spice at the end.

92 Old Elk Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Barrels, 54.05%, $100

From Colorado whiskey maker Old Elk, led by master distiller Greg Metze and his team, this one is part of its Cask Finish series. Along with its Infinity Blend, this is the highest-scoring release of Old Elk to date. Tasting Notes: Herbs and fragrant chocolate, a spicy palate, with notes of orange, and some cooked pears, spice and oak, length and apple sweetness, with a lovely hit of spice at the end.

91 Bib And Tucker 6 year old Double Char Small Batch Bourbon (Batch 01), 44%, $55

Bib & Tucker was launched by California’s August Sebastiani in 2014 and is now owned by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. Its 6 year old Small Batch bourbon from Tennessee finished at No. 14 in Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 rankings in 2021. Tasting Notes: Toasted caramel, butterscotch, baked apple pie. burnt toast, caramelized sugar, confectionery powder, dry oak tannins, and barbecue roasting.