Start Off Right

Every great product starts with quality ingredients and Maker's Mark pride themselves on the grains they distill from. Each of the grains are tested, overseen and handpicked by the distillery to ensure they're starting with the best. The farmers who produce the grain are screened to ensure they are not using genetically modified seed, have any genetically modified varieties growing nearby that could cross bread or over use pesticides and other practices that can taint the grain. The distillers will also hand pick fields from a contracted farmer that they want to use even before the harvest. The corn for Maker's Mark is grown in Indiana and Kentucky and is inspected visually as well as for moisture (more than 14% water and it's rejected). The grain recipe for Maker's Mark is 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat and 14% malted barley, but they're not concerned about anyone duplicating their product because it's the entire process that makes this bourbon special.