Maker's Mark Goes Further for Flavor With its First-Ever Whisky Finished with Japanese Mizunara Oak Staves

06 October 2026

Maker's Mark Goes Further for Flavor With its First-Ever Whisky Finished with Japanese Mizunara Oak Staves

Building on the brand's pioneering wood finishing legacy, Maker’s Mark’s World Wood Collection launches ahead of Holiday 2026 exclusively in airports around the globe

LORETTO, Ky., October 6, 2026 – Maker's Mark, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, today announced the World Wood Collection, a new Global Travel Retail-exclusive series celebrating the influence of exceptional oak from around the world. The inaugural release, Expedition 01, marks the first Maker's Mark whisky to feature three oak finishes across three continents: Japanese Mizunara, French and American white oak staves.

The World Wood Collection represents the evolution of Maker’s Mark’s wood finishing philosophy, first introduced with Maker’s Mark 46, which demonstrated how oak staves could unlock new dimensions of flavor in bourbon while remaining true to the brand’s handmade heritage. Maker’s Mark has long treated oak as a key ingredient—not simply a container for its whisky, and has invested in advancing both the art of wood finishing and the stewardship of American white oak at Star Hill Farm.

"At Maker's Mark, we celebrate bourbon as an agricultural product and the universe of flavor that can be unlocked through nature—water, wheat, oak and time," said Rob Samuels, managing director and eighth-generation whisky maker. "That belief has long guided our commitment to sustainable forestry and to protecting the future of American white oak. Through intentional wood finishing, The World Wood Collection explores exceptional oak from around the world to create a whisky that expands the boundaries of flavor while staying true to our craft."

Expedition 01 brings together Japanese Mizunara, French and American white oak, with each whisky individually finished before being expertly blended into a single expression. The result is a complex, balanced whisky in which every oak contributes its own distinctive character.

• Japanese Mizunara oak contributes delicate floral notes and subtle umami complexity.

• American white oak delivers sweet vanilla notes, brightness and a rounded character.

• French oak introduces warm baking spice, caramel richness and an elegant, lingering finish.

“Expedition 01 represents the kind of premium, story-driven whisky experience that resonates with today’s global travelers,” said Vanessa Widmann, managing director for Global Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits. “With its exclusive availability in Global Travel Retail, distinctive oak-forward story and premium presentation, it offers travelers a rare opportunity to discover a truly unique expression from Maker’s Mark — one that celebrates craftsmanship, exploration and the influence of exceptional oak.”

Available exclusively through Global Travel Retail ahead of Holiday 2026, Expedition 01 is bottled at 1L and 47.5% ABV and presented in premium packaging inspired by the distinctive grain of each oak species, reinforcing the collection’s focus on craftsmanship and discovery.

The limited-edition expression will be available beginning today in New York (JFK), London (LHR), Istanbul (SAW), Perth (PER), and Bengaluru (BLR) through Avolta retail outlets for the suggested retail price of $84.99.

For more information, visit www.makersmark.com.

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ABOUT MAKER’S MARK

Maker's Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world. In 1953, founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. broke from tradition—burning the family's 170-year-old recipe to create a bold, balanced bourbon made with soft red winter wheat for signature sweetness and creaminess. From the start, the Samuels went to remarkable lengths to craft uncompromisingly delicious bourbon—a perfectly unreasonable spirit that endures today. Every bottle is still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand and every decision guided by the brand's higher purpose.

Staying true to its founders' vision, Maker's Mark has expanded its portfolio with award-winning, super-premium expressions, including Maker's Mark 46, Cask Strength, and Cellar Aged, as well as Private Selection, the brand's custom barrel program. In 2025, the distillery debuted Star Hill Farm Whisky. Named World’s Best Wheat Whisky and the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification, Star Hill Farm Whisky inspired the Maker's Mark Regenerative Alliance, a bold commitment to advance regenerative farming beyond its business.

Maker's Mark is proud to be both B Corp and Regenified Certified – milestones driven by the sustainability leadership at Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker's Mark Distillery, which strives to be the most endearing, culturally rich and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.

WE MAKE OUR WHISKY CAREFULLY. PLEASE ENJOY IT THAT WAY.
Maker's Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 56.65-59.4% Alc./Vol. ©2026 Maker's Mark Distillery, Inc., Loretto, KY.