When it comes to bourbon distilleries set in their ways, few spring to mind faster than Maker’s Mark. Although the team has dabbled in experimentation over the past five to ten years, almost all of these have been modest ventures. So when something does change, however subtle, people are that much more likely to notice. Case in point: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength.

Originally released in 375ml squat bottles, the idea behind this expression is as simple as it comes. And yet, that simplicity is arguably a Maker’s hallmark—and an effective one at that. In the few years since its inception, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength has been bumped to a full-size bottle and, more recently, saw yet another rebranding. This latest update helps the bottle better match the design of other bottles in the Maker’s portfolio while disclosing the corresponding batch size and age statement.

We’ll be looking at batch 26-01, comprised of 378 casks aged “to taste” for a minimum of seven years and one month. There are a couple noteworthy details, the first of which is right in the previous sentence. Maker’s Mark has long abided by a “taste vision,” aging their whisky “to taste” rather than aiming for a particular age. However, the new Cask Strength bottles mention being distilled 24 barrels at a time before being “aged to taste for a minimum of seven years.” This is the first time I can recall Maker’s Mark specifying a minimum age for the Cask Strength, so perhaps they’re slowly giving an inch to consumer demand? Like all things whisky, time will tell.

It’s been a while since I previously covered Maker’s Mark Cask Strength (batch 20-03), so let’s see how this more recent version matches up.

Nose: Floral and fruity. Heavily reduced cherry syrup, pungent tobacco, clove, and toasted hazelnut with a hint of fennel and dehydrated banana. A touch of damp, musty oak lends a mild bitter-meets-tannic sensation to the overall aromas.

Palate: Jammy. Moderately rich and syrupy. Develops more of a black cherry note over time with dried banana and hints of syrupy green apple before vanilla gradually ramps up. Mild bitterness presents as petrichor, tobacco, and clove.

Finish: Oak becomes more present, giving off a brandied cherry note to go with the lingering tobacco. Fairly clean overall, but there’s enough lingering syrupy fruit to keep it from feeling anticlimactic.

Maker’s Mark historically drinks hot for me, particularly the non-finished expressions. Which is why I’m surprised to say that this batch of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength feels notably different from the last one I tried. Where I recall my previous bottle being brighter with more stonefruit, 26-01 brings a tobacco and syrupy cherry profile to the table. That last part is also surprising since I don’t generally get cherry overtones on Maker’s products. However, that was batch 20-03, which I reviewed five years ago, so it’s just as likely that my tastes simply changed over time.

Regardless, based on this particular batch, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is in a solid place. The profile is on-point, never slipping into aggressive territory, but also offers a respectable amount of depth for a $40-$50 bottle. In fact, I might prefer this to some recent batches of 46 Cask Strength. Between 26-01 and the still-recently-introduced Cellar Aged bottles, I’d say recent non-finished Maker’s bourbons are creeping up my tier list. It feels like every time I’m about to lose interest in Maker’s, I revisit them and remember why I’m a fan in the first place. Even if they’re not the best, they’re rarely unreliable.