Maker’s Mark Unveils 2026 Wood Finishing Series: The Stewards Release

LORETTO, Ky., March 9, 2026 – Maker’s Mark, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, today announced the 2026 release of its Wood Finishing Series: The Stewards Release—an expression inspired by the distillery’s operations teams who guide the bourbon’s journey from first fermentation to final bottling.

“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 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.

“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.”

Marking the midpoint of a five-year journey, the Stewards Release (2026) is the third installment in the second Wood Finishing Series. Set to conclude in 2028, this series explores the people behind the proof and follows The Keepers Release (2025), inspired by the warehouse team who ensure every barrel of Maker’s Mark matures consistently to the founders’ taste vision, and The Heart Release (2024), inspired by the distillery team—the makers of Maker’s Mark, crafting its handmade bourbon in Loretto, Kentucky.

The Stewards Release will be delivered in two batches: one at 59.4% ABV / 109.6 proof, and the other at 56.65% ABV / 113.3 proof. Both will be available at U.S. retailers at a suggested MSRP of $74.99 beginning today. For more information, please visit www.MakersMark.com.

About Maker’s Mark

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 at www.makersmark.com.

About Suntory Global Spirits

As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196™ (minus one-nine-six) and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com

DISTILLING THE SPIRIT OF PARIS

The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell, and Joan Roca, chef at El Celler de Can Roca, set out to capture the essence of Paris, the capital of cuisine and birthplace of modern dining.

The experience was brought to life with acclaimed chef Anne-Sophie Pic as host, offering a refined lens on the city’s culinary spirit.

They immersed themselves in the rituals of “l’art de la table”, the French tradition of transforming meals into meaningful experiences. Through people, places and flavours, they captured the spirit of Paris. Their journey inspired both a single malt and a menu that reflect the city’s distinctive character.

READ THE STORY

“This whisky is a deeply personal creation, inspired by my time in Paris with Joan Roca and Anne-Sophie Pic. Paris embodies elegance, passion, and sophistication, and I embraced the challenging yet beautiful task of distilling its very soul – an essence that can now be savoured.”

Kirsteen Campbell
Master Whisky Maker

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY

THE WHISKY

This limited-edition single malt captures the essence of Paris through the tastes, aromas and sensations of a journey.Notes of sandalwood and gentle spices open on the nose and linger on the finish, a subtle nod to the city’s storied perfume houses. Soft toasted oak evokes the incense of Paris’ historic landmarks, while notes of sweet nectarine and peach melba on the palate recall the elegance of classic French patisserie.

DISCOVER

Mac-Talla PX is the second expression in the range to focus on full Pedro Ximénez maturation, delivering a rich and opulent take on Islay single malt. Matured in a combination of first fill PX sherry butts and refill PX sherry hogsheads, this release brings together the depth of PX sherry influence with the unmistakable character of Islay spirit. Bottled at a robust 52.8% ABV, Mac-Talla PX offers a deeply flavoured style that shows the Mac-Talla range at its most indulgent.

SHOP NOW

The Whisky Loch: A Lesson in Cycles

You know the saying history doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes? Recent talk of maturing stockpiles amid slowing demand has prompted comparisons with the infamous “Whisky Loch” of the 1980s… a time when Scottish warehouses were quite literally awash with spirit that nobody seemed to need or know what to do with.

In another thoughtful piece for our blog, Iain Russell revisits that turbulent period: how overconfidence in booming markets led to surplus, closures, corporate upheaval and some surprisingly cheap mature whisky. He asks what lessons can be learned from the familiar pattern we’re seeing today.

📖 Read the Post

https://youtu.be/bKMmwkR1YDc

Glen Scotia 7 Year Old, Ruby Port Finish, 53.9%

You know springtime is approaching when the Campbeltown Malts Festival bottle lands in retailers. a seven year old Glen Scotia, firstly matured in ex-bourbon and then finished for six months in first fill ex-Ruby Port casks.

The nose on this thing is absolutely stunning – it instantly transports itself into the top three Glen Scotia Festival bottles for me. So much creamy vanilla fudge, sweet, juicy red fruits and that potent, lurking smoke moving around in the back. Taste wise it takes on a less sweet, more bitter, herbaceous taste profile that sits in the field of agave, grapefruit and lime juice. The finish is long lasting, sweet and smoky with ashy Campbeltown peat and lingering juicy Port fruits with more of this Mezcal, bittersweet citrus of lime and grapefruit.

It’s really difficult to find flaws in these bottles. Even if they’re experimental and a little off the beaten path, it’s something that Glen Scotia just knock out of the park in all of the best ways possible.

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday
Facebook.com/whiskytube
Twitter.com/whiskytube
Youtube.com/whiskywednesday

Douglas Laing & Co. Launches Scallywag 18-Year-Old – A Limited-Edition Speyside Malt Finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks

Independent Scotch Whisky specialist Douglas Laing & Co. announces the release of Scallywag 18-Year-Old, a new limited edition bottling that showcases a richly mature side to the much-loved Scallywag Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky range.

At 18 glorious years of age, this special release represents a crowning moment for Scallywag. The whisky’s final years have been spent in the finest Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks from Jerez, in the Andalusian region of southern Spain. This coveted cask style is renowned for imparting decadent sweetness and depth – perfectly complementing Scallywag’s signature sherried character and delivering a dram of notable richness and elegance.

Bottled at 46% ABV, Scallywag 18-Year-Old is offered in a strictly limited run of 2,610 bottles available globally, creating a rare opportunity for collectors and whisky lovers alike to experience the brand at extended age.

On the palate, Scallywag 18-Year-Old is said to deliver opulent notes of dark chocolate truffles, spiced orange peel and toasted walnuts, unfolding into treacle toffee and black cherries, with a warming whisper of cinnamon. A lingering finish brings oak spice, espresso and dried figs, rounding out a rewarding and memorable tasting experience.

Scott Morrison, Senior Brand Manager comments:

“This 18-Year-Old release is a special milestone for Scallywag. The extended maturation, combined with a luxurious Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask finish, brings remarkable richness and depth, offering whisky lovers the opportunity to experience a more mature and indulgent side of the brand.”

Scallywag 18-Year-Old will be available through select whisky specialists and premium retailers worldwide with a suggested RRP of £85.00.

Every slight alteration has a profound influence on our whisky – for us, details aren’t an afterthought, they’re everything. Our Master Whisky Maker has an incredible knowledge of the character, nuances and idiosyncrasies of the spirit in her care. It is embracing these details that makes our whisky what it is.

Our latest campaign has been brought to life by the renowned photographer François Halard, who captures The Glenrothes in the homes of people for whom every detail counts, who – like us – curate variety to create an exceptional whole.

We are honoured to be featured in the three homes of: John Pawson, pioneering minimalist architectural designer in the Cotswolds, the fashion brand Self-Portrait’s founder and creative director Han Chong in London, and the Paris home of Julie de Libran, a couture designer known for her work at Prada, Versace, Louis Vuitton, and her eponymous brand.

Discover More

2016 Laphroaig 9 Year Old “Redacted Bros” Single Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)  $59.99

2014 Braeval 11 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)  $64.99 View

North British 33 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) $69.99 View

2014 Laphroaig 11 Year Old “Redacted Bros” Single Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $74.99 View

Mystery Malt By Thompson Bro “US Exclusive” Series No. 4 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $89.99 View

These products ares estimated to be available for delivery or pickup by 05/31/2026.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

New & Exclusive: Redbreast 20 YO
Oloroso Cask

From the iconic Redbreast distillery in Ireland, comes this single pot still whiskey aged entirely in Oloroso sherry casks for a rich, deep character. This is a bold and intense dram, one that whiskey drinkers who appreciate long, sherry-driven flavour profiles will thoroughly enjoy.

Delicate sherry and floral notes give way to rich cacao, black cherry, and pot still spices, balanced by seasoned oak and fig jam. On the palate, orchard fruits, warm spices, dark chocolate, and earthy undertones build to a long finish where toasted oak and pot still spices linger.

You can also discover its depth and complexity firsthand with the opportunity to sample it in one of our London stores.

SHOP NOW

ralfy review 1120 – Boann Madeira Cask Irish Whiskey @47%vol: