The first bourbon in our wood-finishing series, Maker's Mark 46 was created by Bill Samuels, Jr., to amplify the flavors he loves in Maker's Mark. The innovative wood-stave-finishing process starts with fully matured Maker's Mark at cask strength. We then insert 10 seared virgin French oak staves into the barrel and finish it for nine weeks in our limestone cellar. The result is Maker's Mark 46: bolder and more complex, but without the bitterness typical of longer-aged whiskies. Want the full Maker's Mark 46 story?

According to the bottle's label, Johnny Drum served as a drummer boy in the year 1861 during the Confederate (Civil) War. At the end of the war, legend has it Johnny returned home to his native Kentucky, where he staked claim among a beautiful spring. Johnny learned the importance of finding a way to convert his excess corn crop into a profitable item, rather than allowing it to go to waste. As the story goes, it wasn't long before Johnny's determination produced an exceptional bourbon whiskey. Today, Johnny Drum is bottled in three forms (though only two are reflected on Willett's website as of this writing) - Johnny Drum Private Stock, Johnny Drum Black Label, and Johnny Drum Green Label (not reflected). Owned by Willett, but bottled under the Johnny Drum Distilling Company name, it is a sourced bourbon of undisclosed origin.