I did not believe I was going to be able to own the 2024 release, however, I won the last raffle of the year from one of our local stores and had to opportunity to purchase it. In 2025, we hunted for bourbon a bit less, and one weekend randomly decided to go for a drive to a few stores. The first store we walked into, this bottle was on the shelf, one week after being released, and at a very reasonable price; obviously, it came home with us. Today’s review comes from the Maker’s Mark Distillery and features the annual limited-edition release of 2025 Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged.

Bottle Information

From the Maker’s Mark website: When creating Cellar Aged, we set out to do something new without forgetting who we are or what we stand for. Creating a bourbon that’s always aged to taste, not time. A bourbon without the bite, that’s always smooth. Aging our whisky for over a decade wasn’t something we ever did. Not because we didn’t believe in it, but because we hadn’t found our way of doing it.

In many ways, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged defines an older whisky, that’s distinctly Maker’s. One rooted in challenging convention, asking “what if” and building on a taste vision that’s generations in the making. By embracing both the maturation impact of our traditional warehouse and the unique maturation impact of our Limestone Cellar, we’ve created an expression that’s richer and complex, without the bitterness. The 2025 release is a blend of 11-, 13- and 14-year-old Maker’s Mark, delivering a fruitier, deeper and darker bourbon.

• Distiller: Distilled, Aged, and Bottled by Maker’s Mark Distillery
• Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley
• Proof: 112.9
• Age: 74% 11 Year Old/10% 13 Year Old/16% 14 Year
• Year: 2025
• MSRP: $179
• 2025 National Average: $449
• Official Website

Unlike the last two releases of the Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged, the 2025 bottle seems to be slightly more available in the NoCo area. I was able to pick my bottle up for slightly over MSRP and have seen half a dozen bottles in the area at similar prices. Overall, this was an excellent pour, however, I felt the fruitiness and sweetness I loved from the 2024 release were missing. Nonetheless, this pour still had classic notes of cherry, vanilla, baking spice, and oak throughout the experience. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Cherry, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Oak, Caramel, and Cinnamon
• Palate: Flat Vanilla Cherry Coke, Baking Spice, and Oak
• Finish: Medium with Notes of Baking Spice and Oak
• My Rating: Drink It! (An excellent pour, however, I felt the fruitiness and sweetness I loved from the 2024 release was missing…)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman®