Maker's Mark is more than halfway through its second Wood Finishing Series, and the third installment is turning out to be the most surprising entry yet. The Stewards Release, the latest bourbon to come out of Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky, is a bold, wood-forward expression that breaks from the softer, fruitier character most people associate with the brand — and depending on where a drinker's tastes land, that's either a very good thing or something to approach with caution.
The release is part of a five-bottle lineup that pays tribute to the teams behind Maker's Mark. The first, The Heart Release, came out in 2024. The second, The Keepers Release, followed in 2025. Now comes The Stewards Release, named in honor of the operational leaders at Star Hill Farm — the people who manage the day-to-day work that keeps the distillery running.
Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller at Maker's Mark, put it this way in an official statement: "Consumers today want exceptional whisky, but they're also interested in the values behind the brand and the people who make it. 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."
It's a sentiment that tracks with where the broader whiskey industry has been heading for a while — drinkers want the story alongside the pour. But the bottle has to earn its place on its own merits.
What's In the Bottle
The Stewards Release is built on the same foundation that has defined Maker's Mark for decades. The mashbill is 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley — a wheated bourbon recipe that has always leaned toward sweetness and approachability rather than the rye-forward bite of many other Kentucky bourbons. There is no age statement on the label.
What sets this release apart from standard Maker's Mark expressions is the finishing process. After the whiskey completes its initial barrel maturation, it goes back into the wood — this time with 10 virgin toasted American oak staves. That finishing treatment is a significant variable. Virgin oak is aggressive. It hasn't had the edge knocked off by previous fills, and it brings heavy tannins, deep wood char, and concentrated flavor extraction to whatever spirit sits with it.
For comparison, The Keepers Release before it used a similar American oak stave treatment. The Heart Release from 2024 took a different path, using virgin French oak staves instead. The choice of wood type and treatment makes a real difference in the final flavor profile, and in the case of The Stewards Release, the American oak finishing pushed the bourbon into noticeably darker, drier territory than its predecessors.
The bottle also comes in two different proof points: 109.6 and 113.3. That's not a typo — Maker's Mark produced two distinct batches, and the higher-ABV version clocks in at a substantial 113.3 proof. The suggested retail price sits right around $75, which is in line with both previous releases in this series.
How It Drinks
The nose on The Stewards Release is the most aggressive of the three bottlings released so far. It opens with pronounced, tannic oak and early ethanol heat, then moves into medicinal cherry, sassafras, and coconut cream. Those coconut notes eventually give way to roastier, toastier aromas — s'mores, gingerbread, and sweet, barbecue-sauced burnt ends. Fans of heavily aged, high-oak whiskeys will recognize this kind of nose immediately and likely find it very appealing. It's the sort of opening that sets expectations for something rich and complex.
The palate, though, takes a different turn than the nose might suggest. Wood tannins arrive first, followed by maraschino cherry. Then something unexpected happens — wintergreen and mint come through at the midpalate, a shift that catches drinkers off guard. The bright citrus and vibrant fruit that showed up in the 2024 Heart Release are mostly absent here. In their place come leather, gentian root, and licorice — flavors that push the bourbon toward drier, more bitter territory. Allspice and nutmeg show up toward the back end, adding some warmth before the finish arrives.
The finish itself adds another layer to an already layered experience. It moves deeper into toasted oak, cinnamon spice, mint, and dried strawberry. It's long, it's drying, and it will divide opinions. Drinkers who love highly aged, wood-forward whiskeys — think bourbon that's been sitting in the rick house long enough to absorb serious oak character — will find a lot to like here. Those who come to Maker's Mark expecting the softer, sweeter profile of the standard expressions may find The Stewards Release a significant departure.
Where It Fits in the Lineup
With three of five releases now on record, it's worth putting The Stewards Release in context relative to the others in the Wood Finishing Series.
The Heart Release from 2024 was the weakest of the group so far, at least for those who expect Maker's Mark limited editions to clear a high bar. The French oak finishing gave it a different character, but the overall execution felt like it fell short of what the series had promised.
The Keepers Release from 2025 was a significant step up — a return to form that reminded drinkers what this series is capable of delivering. The American oak stave treatment worked well in that bottle, and the flavor profile hit a balance that made it easy to recommend.
The Stewards Release sits in the middle in terms of overall quality, but it's doing something the others weren't. It represents Maker's Mark pushing its house profile into new territory. The nose is bolder, the palate is drier and more complex, and the finish leans harder into wood than anything else the brand has released under this lineup. It's not quite as immediately satisfying as The Keepers Release, but it shows a brand willing to take some risks.
Why It Matters
Maker's Mark has spent decades building a reputation around consistency. The red wax, the wheated mashbill, the soft and approachable character — these things have made it one of the most recognizable bourbon brands in the world. The Wood Finishing Series, in its second run, is clearly aimed at showing a different side of what the distillery is capable of.
The Stewards Release is the boldest evidence of that so far. By leaning into virgin American oak finishing and bottling at higher proof points, Maker's Mark is essentially inviting longtime fans to reconsider what the distillery can produce. It won't replace the standard yellow label on anyone's bar cart, but that's not the point.
Two more releases remain in this second Wood Finishing Series, and if The Stewards Release is any indication, the lineup is building toward something. Whether that something lands will depend on what comes next — but for now, this is a bourbon worth seeking out for anyone who gravitates toward bigger, woodier expressions and doesn't mind a little complexity alongside their Kentucky straight.
At $75 a bottle, it's priced in line with what the limited edition bourbon market expects for this tier. Given the two proof point options and the amount of thought that clearly went into the finishing regimen, it offers solid value for collectors and serious drinkers alike.
