Maker's Mark FAE-02 Review and FAE-01 Comparison

Updated: April 26, 2022

80 General Review of Maker's Mark FAE-02 2021 Limited Release

Oh boy, I have been waiting for Maker’s Mark FAE-02 because of my extraordinary experience with the previous release. Finally, it is here!

This neck pour of FAE-02 is good but not as good as the initial tasting of FAE-01, which I have only tried once. I went back to my bottle of FAE-01 and tasted it again just to make sure I remembered correctly. FAE-01 is definitely richer and sweeter; with a buttery sweetness, that's more oily. Still, I’m not mad at the FAE-02 experience even though it's so different than what I expected; not knowing what Maker’s Mark intended with this release.

For now, here are my notes.

Rating: 80

Nose	79
Palate	85
Finish	72
Uniqueness	80
Value	80
Ratings breakdown based on a 100 point scale. 90-100 Exceptional 80-89 Very Good 70-79 Average 60-69 Below Average 50-60 Drain Pour

Detailed Tasting Notes

Nose Review - Rating: 79

As soon as I opened the bottle, I breathed in the FAE - 02 chewy caramel richness that you would expect based on the previous batch. Strangely enough, the aroma starts to mellow as it sits in the glass. I hoped that rich aroma would be there throughout the tasting, but it wasn't. The aroma mellows to where I didn't smell it much the further I got into the tasting.

Palate Review - Rating: 85

Boom! On the first sip, there is a solid spicy heat that smacks you in the face, followed by a wave of caramel goodness. The second sip is the same, with a little more sharpness. It does seem as though the oak and spiciness become more prominent as you sip, and the sweetness lessens. It'll be interesting to see how this opens up. I'll report back.

Finish Review - Rating: 72

The finish is extremely short. There’s no hug as the bourbon coats your throat. There is no warmth enveloping your heart. The finish is somewhat disappointing.

Uniqueness Review - Rating: 80

The further I got into this tasting the more I could see similarities between this batch and other Bourbons.

Value Review - Rating: 80

It’s well worth the $64.99 I paid.

Author: Mark Pringle

Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!

My External Website (External Website Opens in New Window)

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