There are bourbon releases, and then there are bourbon releases that actually mean something. The new "Yam Jam by Kelsey Plum" falls into the second category — not just because of the name on the bottle, but because of how it came to be and what it represents for one of America's most storied distilleries.
Maker's Mark, the Kentucky bourbon institution that has been doing things its own way since the 1950s, has partnered with two-time WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Kelsey Plum to release a limited-edition Private Selection expression. It hits select retailers in Los Angeles starting May 7, right as the 2026 WNBA season gets underway.
What Is the Private Selection Program?
Before getting into the bottle itself, it helps to understand how this bourbon was actually made. Maker's Mark's Private Selection program is not a marketing gimmick. It is a hands-on, legitimate process where individuals — whether they are trade partners, celebrities, or serious bourbon enthusiasts — travel out to Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky, and work directly with the distillery team to shape the finishing process of the bourbon.
The finishing stage is where a whiskey can really take on character. Maker's Mark uses proprietary stave profiles during this period, and participants in the Private Selection program choose from a range of those staves to customize the flavor profile of their barrel. The result is always a one-of-a-kind expression that reflects the person who made the selections — their palate, their preferences, and in some cases, their personality.
Plum made that trip to Loretto last year, bringing her mother along for the experience. Rob Samuels, the eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker's Mark, was on hand for the visit. "It was a pleasure to host Kelsey and her mom at Maker's Mark's homeplace last year — to share what makes our brand so special and bring her taste vision to life through our Private Selection program," Samuels said. "This partnership brings together our passion for exceptional bourbon with Kelsey's unmatched focus, warmth and authenticity — all in support of a meaningful cause."
The Bourbon Itself
Yam Jam by Kelsey Plum comes in at 55.65% ABV, which works out to 111.3 proof. That is not a bourbon for the faint of heart, but it is also not proof for proof's sake. A higher bottling strength at this level means more of the barrel's character comes through in the glass, and if the tasting notes hold up, there is a lot of character here.
On the nose, expect bright chili spice and citrus up front, with toasted oak, white pepper, and cherry underneath. That combination of heat and fruit is a strong opening — the kind of nose that tells you right away this is not a standard shelf bourbon.
The palate is where the name starts to make sense. Sweet potato pie leads the way, followed by toasted pecan and soft baking spices. It is a warm, dessert-forward profile that still manages to stay grounded. The finish brings baking chocolate, pie cherries, and orange rind — a long, layered close that circles back to both the fruit and the spice from the opening.
Plum had a clear vision for what she wanted this bourbon to be. "Working with Maker's Mark to create my own bourbon gave me a chance to take the same approach I bring to the court — thoughtful, precise and intentional — and craft an expression that truly reflects who I am," she said.
She also made clear that the inspiration behind the flavor profile was rooted in something personal. "I've always admired Maker's Mark for their dedication to taking the time to achieve their exact vision," Plum added. "With Yam Jam, I wanted something bold and distinctive, with warmth and balance, meant to be enjoyed with family and friends, just as their founders intended with Maker's Mark."
That philosophy — bold but approachable, built for sharing — comes through in the profile. This is not a bourbon designed to sit in a cabinet. It is designed to be opened.
A Cocktail Built Around the Bottle
Plum did not stop at the bourbon itself. She also developed a signature serve called "KP's Kicking Mule," which takes the Yam Jam bourbon and builds it into a riff on a classic mule. The cocktail combines the bourbon with blood orange, blackberry, and ginger for something citrus-forward and punchy.
The mule format works well here — the ginger adds a sharpness that plays well against the sweet potato and spice notes of the bourbon, while the blood orange and blackberry echo the fruit elements already present in the whiskey. It is a thoughtful pairing rather than an afterthought, which is consistent with how the entire project was approached.
The First Barrel Goes to a Cause
One detail that sets this release apart from a typical celebrity collaboration is what happened to the first barrel. Maker's Mark donated it to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which supports charitable fundraising efforts that provide critical equipment and resources for firefighters in Los Angeles.
Given the fires that tore through parts of Los Angeles earlier this year, the timing of that donation carries real weight. It turns a limited-edition whiskey release into something connected to the community where it is being sold — and to the people who risked their lives protecting that community.
Part of a Bigger Commitment
The Yam Jam release is not a standalone move for Maker's Mark. Earlier this year, the brand announced a multi-year partnership with Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 basketball challenger league, which marked the distillery's first sponsorship of a sports league. Both that deal and the Kelsey Plum collaboration fall under Maker's Mark's "Perfectly Unreasonable" global campaign — a platform built around doing things with care and intention, even when it would be easier not to.
For a brand that has always prided itself on taking the long way around when it comes to quality, the commitment makes sense. Maker's Mark has never been in a rush. The wheat-forward mash bill, the hand-dipping process, the careful aging program — none of it is fast. Applying that same mindset to partnerships, rather than chasing every trend, is consistent with how the distillery has operated for generations.
Should You Seek This One Out?
If the flavor profile sounds appealing — and at 111.3 proof with that sweet potato pie and toasted pecan character, it should — this is worth making the effort to find. Limited-edition Private Selection releases from Maker's Mark do not last long. The combination of a high proof, a distinctive palate, and a genuinely interesting backstory gives this one more going for it than most celebrity-adjacent whiskey projects.
It is available starting May 7 at select retailers in Los Angeles. There is no word yet on whether it will expand beyond that market, which makes the limited nature of this release even more real for anyone outside Southern California. If travel to LA is on the calendar, or if there is a connection to a retailer who can source it, Yam Jam by Kelsey Plum is the kind of bottle that rewards the search.
This is not just a bourbon with a famous name attached to it. It was made the right way, by someone who took the process seriously, at a distillery that has been doing this longer than most people have been alive. That combination does not come along often.
