Maker's Mark Stewards Release 2026: Barrel Insights
Maker's Mark has released the 2026 Stewards Release, the third installment in its second Wood Finishing Series, celebrating the distillery's operations teams who shepherd bourbon from grain to glass. Using innovative wood stave finishing techniques, this expression layers cherry pie and vanilla bean aromas with honey, toasted marshmallow, and candied ginger notes, finishing with stone fruit and salted caramel. Available now in two distinct batches—one at 109.6 proof and another at 113.3 proof—for $74.99, the Stewards Release marks the midpoint of a five-year journey exploring the people behind every barrel that leaves Star Hill Farm.
Inside the Barrel: What Makes Stewards Release Different
The Wood Finishing Series at Maker's Mark takes the distillery's signature wheated bourbon and amplifies specific flavor notes through a proprietary stave finishing technique. Rather than releasing bourbon straight from the barrel, the distillery team introduces custom-toasted wood staves into the finishing process, drawing out particular characteristics that might otherwise stay hidden in the char. The Stewards Release honors the operations leaders—those who manage fermentation schedules, monitor barrel rotation in the rickhouse, coordinate bottling runs, and ensure consistency across every batch. These are the folks who know which warehouse floors run warm in summer, which cooperage staves deliver the cleanest oak influence, and exactly when a barrel has reached its flavor peak. Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker, emphasizes that this expression continues his grandparents' founding vision of respecting everyone involved in the bourbon-making process, from grain growers to the team hand-dipping every bottle in red wax.
Two Batches, Two Proofs: The Warehouse Story
This year's Stewards Release arrives in two distinct batches, each bottled at barrel proof to preserve the full character developed during finishing. The first batch clocks in at 56.65% ABV (113.3 proof), while the second lands at 59.4% ABV (109.6 proof). These proof variations reflect the natural differences that develop barrel-to-barrel in the rickhouse—temperature fluctuations, warehouse location, and maturation time all influence final alcohol content and flavor concentration. Master Distiller Dr. Blake Layfield notes that today's bourbon drinkers and bartenders alike want to understand what's behind the proof point, from the ingredients and cooperage choices to the hands-on craftsmanship involved at every stage. Both batches maintain Maker's Mark's wheated mash bill foundation, with soft red winter wheat replacing the traditional rye for signature sweetness and creamy texture. The stave finishing process then builds on that base, coaxing out brighter fruit notes and deeper caramel complexity that wouldn't emerge through standard aging alone.
From Barrel to Bottle: Production Notes
The Stewards Release represents the third chapter in a five-year Wood Finishing Series that began in 2024 with The Heart Release, honoring the distillery team crafting bourbon daily in Loretto. The 2025 Keepers Release followed, celebrating the warehouse crew who rotate barrels by hand and monitor maturation to ensure every barrel meets the founders' original taste vision. With Stewards landing at the series midpoint, two more expressions will follow through 2028, each spotlighting different teams within the Star Hill Farm operation. The wood stave finishing technique allows Maker's Mark to explore flavor territory beyond what standard aging delivers, using various toast levels and stave profiles to emphasize different elements in the base bourbon. Every bottle still receives the hand-dipped red wax seal and reflects the distillery's commitment to handmade production methods established by Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. in 1953. The $74.99 suggested retail price positions Stewards Release within Maker's Mark's super-premium tier, alongside expressions like Maker's 46 and Cask Strength.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Bright cherry pie and vanilla bean, with hints of baking spice and oak char underneath
- Palate: Honey and toasted marshmallow lead, followed by candied ginger, wheated sweetness, and caramel depth
- Finish: Vibrant stone fruit notes with salted caramel, lingering warmth from the barrel proof, subtle oak tannins
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series?
The Wood Finishing Series is Maker's Mark's collection of limited expressions that use proprietary wood stave finishing techniques to amplify specific flavor characteristics in their signature wheated bourbon. Rather than standard aging alone, custom-toasted oak staves are introduced during the finishing process to draw out particular notes like fruit, spice, or caramel. The current five-year series (2024-2028) honors different teams at the distillery, with each annual release celebrating the people behind bourbon production—from distillery workers to warehouse crews to operations leaders.
What proof is the 2026 Stewards Release?
The 2026 Stewards Release comes in two batches with different proofs: one bottled at 113.3 proof (56.65% ABV) and another at 109.6 proof (59.4% ABV). Both are barrel proof expressions, meaning they're bottled at the alcohol content achieved during finishing without dilution to a standard proof. These proof variations reflect natural differences that develop barrel-to-barrel based on warehouse location, maturation conditions, and the wood stave finishing process. Both batches carry the same $74.99 suggested retail price.
How does wood stave finishing change bourbon flavor?
Wood stave finishing introduces additional oak interaction after primary aging is complete, allowing distillers to emphasize specific flavor notes that standard barrel maturation might not fully develop. The finishing staves are toasted or charred to different levels, which breaks down wood sugars and lignins differently than the original barrel char. This technique can coax out brighter fruit notes, deeper caramel or vanilla characteristics, or enhanced baking spice elements. In the Stewards Release, the stave finishing amplifies cherry, honey, and stone fruit notes while adding layers of toasted marshmallow and candied ginger that build on Maker's Mark's wheated bourbon foundation.
Where can I buy Maker's Mark Stewards Release 2026?
The Stewards Release 2026 is available now at U.S. retailers with a suggested MSRP of $74.99 per bottle. Distribution includes both the 113.3 proof and 109.6 proof batches, though availability may vary by market and state liquor control regulations. As a limited Wood Finishing Series expression, quantities are finite and typically sell through relatively quickly at specialty spirits retailers and better bourbon selections. Check with local retailers or visit MakersMark.com for more information on availability in your area.
What makes Maker's Mark a wheated bourbon?
Maker's Mark uses soft red winter wheat as the secondary grain in its mash bill instead of the traditional rye found in most bourbons. Founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. burned their family's 170-year-old recipe in 1953 to create this wheated formula, seeking a bourbon with more sweetness and creaminess and less spicy bite. Wheat contributes softer, rounder flavors compared to rye's sharper spice notes, giving Maker's Mark its signature smooth character. This wheated foundation provides the base for all Wood Finishing Series expressions, including the Stewards Release, with the wood stave finishing process building additional complexity on top of that distinctively mellow profile.