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Maker’s Mark
unveil the London Edition, the final
release of its limited edition Wood
Finishing City Series which is exclusive
to global travel retail.
Maker’s Mark has unveiled the final
release of its Wood Finishing City
Series in global travel retail,
presenting a limited-edition collection
that encapsulates the distinct character
and flavours of some of the world’s most
vibrant cities for whisky enthusiasts
traversing the globe.
This travel retail exclusive series
first graced shelves in 2022, showcasing
iconic cities such as New York City,
Sydney, Frankfurt, and Singapore.
Wrapping up the series is the London
City Edition, an exclusive offering
available solely at Heathrow Airport
Terminal 5, in collaboration with Avolta.
Crafting this latest expression involved
a partnership between Maker’s Mark and
flavour collaborators Douglas McMaster
and Ryan Chetiyawardana. The result is a
multifaceted release blending punchy
spice, fruity tang, and sweet caramel,
melding the dynamic essence of the
capital city with Maker’s Mark's
signature finish.
ABOUT THE LONDON TASTEMAKERS
Douglas McMaster, a renowned chef and
proprietor of Silo London, holds the
distinction of owning the world’s first
zero-waste restaurant. In 2021, he was
honored by 'The World’s 50 Best
Restaurants' as one of the 'young people
shaping the future of gastronomy.'
Cocktail maestro Ryan Chetiyawardana,
also known as Mr. Lyan, launched his
inaugural bar, White Lyan, in London
back in 2013. It made history as the
world’s first cocktail establishment to
eliminate perishables, including fruit
and ice. Not only crowned 'World’s Best
Bartender,' Ryan has secured the #5 spot
on Business Insider’s 'World’s Leading
Figures in Food and Drink.' His various
ventures have also clinched the title of
'World’s Best Bar' three times.
Ryan and Douglas share a longstanding
friendship, having collaborated on
numerous occasions to delve into flavour
and storytelling within their London
community.
Ryan commented: "It was so exciting to
travel to Maker's Mark’s home in
Kentucky...The unique profile of the
whisky reflects the land that surrounds
the distillery. This comes through in
its signature character, so to be able
to marry this with a place that is so
important to me – and to be able to do
this with one of my dearest friends, and
someone I admire hugely from a
professional point of view – was
incredible."
He added: "London is a very complex
city, so to try and represent all the
facets that make it so exciting, we
looked to create a sense of dynamism,
and almost contradiction, within the
whisky. Building on the Maker's Mark
character, we looked to balance deep
spice with something more fleeting,
floral and elegant – to have something
that was simultaneously bold yet
elegant, and with a long trail of spice
on the palate. It's a gem of a whisky to
seek out, and one that we hope does
justice to both London, and to the
amazing efforts of Maker's Mark."
Douglas added: "Our contribution for
this collaboration was as unconventional
as we are. Welcomed with sincere
appreciation for our lateral thinking,
we have made something truly magical,
one of a kind. We closed the loop on
flavour, we made London proud, we made
the drinkers think. Maker’s Mark, thank
you for letting myself and Mr Lyan join
your family. Our collaboration was
fleeting, but the magic will live on… At
least for 720 beguiling bottles."
QUALITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
The distinctive flavour profiles of each
release in the City Series are
meticulously crafted through Maker’s
Mark's innovative wood stave-finishing
technique. This method explores and
accentuates the unique characteristics
already inherent in Maker’s Mark
Bourbon.
The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series
London Edition is said to greet the nose with a
delightful medley of buttercream icing,
toasted vanilla, orange peel, maple,
caramel, and vanilla bean. On the
palate, vibrant caramel, orchard fruits,
and marshmallow unfold into layers of
rich tobacco, oak, and salted caramel.
The creamy texture and bold palate
finish are further heightened by zesty
hints of citrus, spices, and tobacco.
Bottled at 54.45% ABV, the Maker’s Mark
Wood Finishing Series London Edition is
a limited offering of only 720 bottles,
with a recommended retail selling price
of US$95 for a 700ml bottle.
THE HEATHROW ACTIVATION
The launch is accompanied by an engaging
experiential activation at Heathrow T5,
running from February 28th to March
26th. Notable elements of this
activation include a dedicated tasting
bar for sampling, striking merchandising
and brand imagery, insights into the
tastemakers behind the creation, Maker’s
Mark ambassadors in uniform, and
exclusive screen-printed tote bags.
To add an extra touch, the activation
will also feature the signature Maker’s
Mark cocktail – the Gold Rush –
showcasing the versatility and classic
appeal of Maker’s Mark Bourbon.
"We are excited to reveal this latest
London Edition of our Maker’s Mark Wood
Finishing City Series Edition, in
partnership with Avolta," noted Beam
Suntory Brand Marketing Director Global
Travel Retail Manuel Gonzalez.
"This collection, which incorporates
destination-specific innovation within
the reassuring familiarity of a
world-famous premium brand, has really
resonated with international travellers
all around the world.
"Our goal is to build Maker’s Mark into
a global US whisky icon, and pioneering
new product development and
consumer-first brand experiences will
play a key role in achieving this
objective. This London Edition
spotlights our clear craftmanship
credentials, while offering a
one-of-a-kind taste profile."
Speaking on behalf of Avolta, Paul
Martin, Category Manager for Liquor in
the UK commented: "At Avolta, and within
our World Duty Free stores, we strive to
deliver unique products and immersive
experiences that really engage and
inspire our customers.
"This striking activation with its
tasting bar, impactful brand imagery,
and its strong Sense of Place with the
release of this London Edition in
exclusive partnership with us, will
certainly capture travellers’ interest."
If you have no plans to travel in the
near future you can still find the
current Maker's Mark whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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