By Richard Thomas
Rating: B+
(Credit: Richard Thomas)
In the name of mixing up my terminology, I often refer to distilleries by their place names, and a feature of Maker’s Mark is that gives me two choices: I can refer to them by Loretto or Star Hill Farm. However you call them, the distillery began its Wood Finishing Series in 2019. With the conclusion of its inaugural run, Loretto came back around and started a second volume of five individual whiskeys in 2024, starting with The Heart Release and then last year’s The Keeper’s Release.
Now comes 2026 and the third release of the second volume, The Steward’s Release. Rooted in the stave finishing system and cellar maturation that grew out of the development of Maker’s 46, the finishing used ten toasted, new white oak staves. Sharp observers immediately noticed that this was the same wood choice used in 2025’s The Keeper’s Release. Although it is possible that some variance was introduced into the secondary maturation with longer/shorter toasting times on the staves; air drying vs. kiln drying; oak sourcing; and other variables, Maker’s Mark has not clarified if any of those variables is a consideration. Also, The Steward’s Release was done in two separate, cask strength batches: 113.3 proof (the one I have) and 109.2 proof.
This has raised speculation that last year’s release and this year’s release were all part of one large consignment, batched in three parts. I still have my bottle of Keeper’s Release handy, so I could do a side-by-side comparison if there is enough interest in giving that the editorial space. Comment below if you want to see it!
The Bourbon
Even without the side-by-side, I can look at my notes and know something must be different about the 2026 batch I received and the 2025 batch I wrote up last year. The flavor profiles show marked differences.
I found the nose led with the kind of eucalyptus and pine scent I often encounter hiking through a Portuguese forest, backed by a stewed pot of dark berries (blackberries, mulberries) seasoned with vanilla. On the palate, that current of forest notes turns tannic, oaky and spicy, but that is moderated by a certain non-descript, earthy quality. The sweet side clings to character that is very much like benchmark bourbon brown sugar plus vanilla, with those dark berry notes stirred in. The finish strips that down to a pinch of baking spices.
The Price
Expect to pay $75 a bottle, not bad at all for a cask strength, wheated bourbon in its class.
