How Old is Maker's Mark?

If you look at the Maker's Mark label you will see something missing, an aging date. So how many years does this bourbon stay in the barrel? David Pickerell answer is "until it is fully matured." That is not very helpful to those who want to know all the facts about what they are drinking but it's a testament to the handmade process at Maker's Mark. Barrels are usually aged for 5 years and 9 months at which time they are "considered eligible" and tested for taste. Some bourbon is ready at this point but some is left to wait a little longer. Maker's Mark has a panel of regular tasters whose job it is to sit down with a few small glasses of bourbon and determine if it is ready to be bottled. Once it is decided that 150 barrels from the six warehouses meet the flavor standards, they are ready for bottling.