Maker's Mark began with one family's quest to create a bourbon they enjoyed drinking and sharing with friends. That's hardly revolutionary today, but in 1953 it changed an industry. Maker’s Mark changed the way we think of bourbon, all because one man changed the way he thought about making it. Bill Samuels, Sr. simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker's Mark is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon that's easy to drink. To ensure consistency, we rotate every barrel by hand and age our bourbon to taste, not time. Each and every bottle of Maker's is still hand-dipped in our signature red wax at our distillery in Loretto, KY. There's an old joke at the distillery that goes, "If we could make it any faster, we wouldn't." Because at Maker's Mark, it's one bottle at a time. Every time. That's as true today as it was when our founders filled our first bottle.