Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Review
In-Depth Review
Maker’s Mark needs no introduction. One of the most ubiquitous brands in whisky, Maker’s has been quietly building its world-renowned reputation since 1953. Located in picturesque Loretto, Kentucky, Maker’s Mark now produces 34 million bottles of bourbon a year. And until recently – every bottle of Maker’s Mark was exactly the same. That changed in 2010, when the first new expression of Maker’s was released – Makers 46. Since then, Maker’s has begun experimenting with all types of different expressions born from its classic mashbill recipe. This has included cask strength, numerous wood finishes, and a new limited series of extended aged whiskies called Cellar Aged.
Cellar Aged debuted in 2023 as the oldest Maker’s Mark ever released. Aged up to 12 years, it received a generally positive reception and quickly sold out everywhere. For 2024, Maker’s has brought back the Cellar Aged expression but upped the age even further. The 2024 version of Cellar Aged is now made up of 85% 13 year old whiskies and 15% of 12 year old. Bottled at 119.3 proof and non-chill filtered, Cellar Aged has an MSRP of $179.99 and is released once a year. I picked this bottle up at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival after waiting in line for an hour – let’s dive in and see if it was worth it!
Age: 15% Aged 12 years and 85% aged 13 years
ABV: 59.65%
Cask: New Oak
MSRP: $179.99
Distillery Name: Maker’s Mark
Review Date: 9/22/24
Color: Deep Caramel
Nose: The nose jumps out of the glass with salted caramel, rustic bread, sweet tea, and lots of cherry. As it settles, the cherry note becomes even more pronounced – coming off like a flat cherry cola. It’s a mouthwatering take on a classic Maker’s profile that is both bold and approachable. The sarsaparilla mixes well with the strong vanilla and oaky body that reminds you this isn’t your typical Maker’s Mark. The nose here feels bigger, deeper, and more robust than the 2023 version of Cellar Aged (which was still very good).
Palate: On first sip, a rich cocoa powder hits your tongue, blooming into chocolate covered cherries, intertwined with lots of dusty oak. Despite this, the palate feels tight and reserved on the first couple of sips. But after settling in, more dark chocolate, corn nuts, and more of that country style bread comes through. More of that flat cola note also creeps in, creating a sweet and oaky palate that allows a touch of spearmint to poke through. Compared to the 2023 version, this is much more oak forward and leans heavily into dark chocolate and cherry. After a few drops of water, the 2024 Cellar Aged becomes even better, removing some of the tannic oak and replacing it with a more balanced palate where vanilla and dried fruits pop.
Finish: Long finish with a warm lingering drying oak with lots of baking spices. It sticks around for a long, long while – with waves of subtle cinnamon and clove coming through. With no water added, this was a bit drier than I expected, and borders on tannic. But after adding a few drops of water, the oak disappears and makes for an even better finish.
Final Thoughts: Maker’s Mark returns for its sophomore release of Cellar Aged with an even older product that delivers a rewarding – if sometimes a bit too oaky – sip that almost anyone will love. At times, it can border on tannic, but after a few drops of water, this truly blossoms into one of the best limited editions coming out of Kentucky. The nose is fabulous, and the palate takes you from chocolate covered cherries to opening up your grandfathers oak desk drawer – with a lot of great flavors in between. Is it worth the high retail? Yes. In a world where Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey seemingly are testing new pricing ceilings every other week, it’s nice to know that Maker’s still prices their oldest and most exclusive limited edition well under the $200 mark. When you compare this 2024 version to the 2023, the inaugural release is lighter and more fruit forward while the 2024 version (with only an extra year of aging), really brings a much darker, oakier profile to the table. If you’ve ever wondered what an older, more oak forward Maker’s Mark would taste like, then this 2024 Cellar Aged is for you.
