Maker’s Mark recently unveiled the latest release in its Wood Finishing Series, a collection of bourbons that are finished with a unique combination of wood staves that are cooked and/or toasted to unlock specific flavors. The new edition is called the Stewards Release, and it’s said to be a tribute to the distillery’s operations team who guides the whiskey all the way from fermentation to bottling.

Of course, that’s all a bit conceptual in practice, even if the whiskey is very good and interesting (and this new Maker’s Mark is both). Like Booker’s Bourbon batches, each Wood Finishing Series release is named after a certain person or theme (both brands are owned by parent company Suntory Global Spirits, it should be noted). Last year’s Keepers Release was an homage to the team who rotates the barrels in the distillery’s warehouses, something that sets Maker’s Mark apart from many other distilleries. And in 2024 the Heart Release dropped, an attempt to highlight the “unique taste vision inspired by the distillery team” (that was actually the first release in the second chapter of the Wood Finishing Series, which launched in 2019).

These themes are all well and good, but how do they actually translate to the whiskey? They all start out as Maker’s Mark’s wheated bourbon that is matured and then finished with a unique set of wood staves which are cooked to certain specifications, and then actually inserted into the barrels of whiskey for a period of time to imbue them with additional flavor (essentially a cask finish from the inside out). That process originated at Maker’s Mark with Maker’s 46, and has continued in various iterations since then. And while the exact type and number of staves that were used for the Stewards Release are not revealed, the resulting whiskey has aromas of cherry pie and vanilla bean, followed by honey, toasted marshmallow, candied ginger, stone fruit, and salted caramel on the palate (per official tasting notes).

“Consumers today want exceptional whisky, but they’re also interested in the values behind the brand and the people who make it,” said master distiller Dr. Blake Layfield in a statement. “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.”

According to the distillery, the Stewards Release marks the midpoint of this second chapter of the Wood Finishing Series, which will wrap up in 2028. It’s being released in two batches bottled at different strengths—one at 109.6 proof (59.4 percent ABV), the other at 113.3 proof (56.65 percent ABV). Both are available now at retailers around the country (SRP $75), and at websites like Total Wine.