Emerging Talent Shines at Maker's Mark Distillery
Maker's Mark Distillery, located on a 1,100-acre property known as Star Hill Farm, has made a significant change in its whiskey production. The distillery, a must-visit on Kentucky's Bourbon Trail, has removed corn from its mashbill to allow wheat to shine in a new way, introducing Star Hill Farm Whisky, its first non-bourbon spirit.
This wheat-forward whiskey, the distillery's first, is a blend of seven- and eight-year-old whiskies. It employs two wheat mashbills — soft red winter wheat and malted barley — to offer a distinct flavor profile rich with aromatic spices (cinnamon, allspice), robust fruits (raspberry, strawberry, blackberry), vanilla, charred oak, and dark chocolate notes without the use of stave finishing.
The use of wheat aligns with Maker’s Mark’s heritage while allowing exploration of new flavor territory, supported by regenerative farming practices that foster terroir expression. Star Hill Farm Whisky is the first to carry an Estate Whisky certification, highlighting advantages of local sourcing and sustainable production.
Regenerative farming at Star Hill Farm means rebuilding topsoil, enhancing biodiversity, and lowering environmental impact by avoiding aggressive farming practices like monoculture and heavy tillage. This stewardship of nature is believed to directly contribute to richer, more complex flavor profiles in their whiskey.
Maker's Mark's dedication to local sourcing and sustainable agriculture practices is reflected in the distillery achieving Regenified Certification. This certification, created by Regenified, a company led by Salar Shemirani, states that Maker's Mark's regenerative outlook could lead to bird species coming back.
The benefits of regenerative farming to Maker’s Mark include improved soil quality, healthier crops, long-term land preservation, and stronger local farming partnerships. These align with a vision of sustainability and enhanced whiskey flavor complexity.
Rob Samuels, the founders' grandson who helms the business, believes the certification creates an opportunity to share what the team has learned on their regenerative farming journey. Dr. Blake Layfield, Maker's Mark's master distiller, describes Star Hill Farm Whisky as a full sensory experience.
Maker's Mark Distillery is the first and only bourbon distillery in Kentucky to achieve B Corp Certification, further underscoring its commitment to sustainability. In addition, the distillery has partnered with Regenified and Understanding Ag to transition one million acres of conventional farmland to regenerative over the next three years.
The distillery chose soft red winter wheat for its mashbill in the 1950s. Furthermore, Maker's Mark and the University of Kentucky are working to map the genome of American White Oak, critical for bourbon barrels.
Star Hill Farm is also home to truffles, which are used in the farm's cocktail program, as preserves, and in the food served at Star Hill Farm's restaurant. Unused truffles are composted and returned to the soil where Star, the favorite little truffle hunter, continues her work.
In summary, regenerative farming at Star Hill Farm enables Maker’s Mark to produce Star Hill Farm Whisky with both environmental stewardship and unique, flavor-rich qualities that set it apart from their core bourbon offerings and other wheated whiskeys on the market.
- Maker's Mark's focus extends beyond whiskey, encompassing aspects of lifestyle such as sustainable farming practices, as seen in their dedication to regenerative agriculture at Star Hill Farm.
- The fashion-and-beauty side of Star Hill Farm is showcased through their unique culinary offerings, which include truffle-based dishes and cocktails, sourced directly from their farm.
- In the realm of travel, Maker's Mark Distillery, a flagship on Kentucky's Bourbon Trail, offers an educational and sensory experience, showcasing their food-and-drink innovations, with a focus on their new Star Hill Farm Whisky and regenerative farming methods.
