Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky / 2026 Release
The Stats
- Distillery: Maker’s Mark
- Location: Loretto, KY
- Type: American Wheat Whisky
- Age: Blend of 7 and 8-year-old whiskies
- Proof: 116.4 (58.2% ALC/VOL)
- Derived Mash Bill: 62% Malted Wheat, 27% Wheat, 11% Malted Barley
- Release: 2026 (Limited Release)
- Price: $100
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Last year’s Star Hill Farm Whisky created an uncomfortable problem for Maker’s Mark: the first release was exceptionally good.
The 2026 edition arrives carrying those expectations, but comparing the two bottles too closely misses the purpose of the series. Star Hill Farm is designed to evolve. Each annual release gives Maker’s Mark an opportunity to explore different varieties of wheat, blending decisions, and flavor profiles rather than recreating the same whisky every year.
That makes the 2026 release less of a sequel and more of a new experiment grown from the same idea.
This version moves away from some of the darker, earthier character we loved in 2025 and toward a creamier profile filled with peaches, honey, toasted grain, roasted nuts, vanilla, and baking spice. It may be slightly less surprising than the inaugural release, but it remains an excellent demonstration of what wheat whisky can become when it is given proper age, proof, and attention.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Maker’s Mark has built its reputation on consistency. Its traditional bourbon recipe has remained largely unchanged for generations, using soft red winter wheat to create the approachable sweetness and texture that define the brand. Star Hill Farm takes the opposite approach.
Introduced in 2025 as Maker’s Mark’s first new mash bill and first American wheat whisky, the series is designed to evolve with each annual release. Rather than reproducing the same bottle every year, Maker’s Mark uses Star Hill Farm to explore how different grains, growing conditions, and blending decisions can shape flavor.
The 2026 release is made from 62% malted wheat, 27% wheat, and 11% malted barley. It incorporates soft red winter wheat, hard white wheat, and heirloom hard red wheat, giving this edition a different composition and flavor profile from the 2025 Star Hill Farm release. The final whisky combines seven and eight-year-old barrels and is bottled at cask strength at 116.4 proof.
The bottle continues to be one of Maker’s Mark’s strongest recent designs. Its rounded, milk-bottle-inspired shape feels connected to the farm without looking overly rustic. The restrained label, substantial cork, and updated Maker’s Mark emblem give it a modern identity while preserving enough heritage to feel naturally connected to the distillery.
It looks like an experiment, but not an unfinished one.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Honey, peaches, vanilla cream, toasted wheat, and a light floral note lead the nose. As it opens, fresh bread, honey butter, and roasted nuts begin to emerge.
Taste
Creamy vanilla, honey, and fruit arrive first, followed by toasted grain, roasted nuts, milk chocolate, and caramel. Pepper and baking spice build through the back half, balancing the sweeter opening.
Finish
The finish is long and warm, with cinnamon, pepper, roasted nuts, honey, and chocolate lingering across the palate. The proof brings plenty of heat, but the creamy texture keeps it controlled.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8.5 / 10 - great
Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 does not recreate the strange, earthy magic of the previous release, but it does not need to.
This edition is creamier, nuttier, fruitier, and more closely connected to the traditional Maker’s Mark flavor profile. Peaches, honey butter, toasted wheat, roasted nuts, chocolate, and cinnamon come together in a whisky that feels experimental without becoming unfamiliar.
The 2025 release may have been more distinctive, but the 2026 edition is still an excellent whisky on its own. More importantly, it confirms that Star Hill Farm has the potential to become one of the most interesting annual releases in American whiskey.
Buy or Skip:
Buy
At a suggested retail price of $100, Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 delivers enough age, proof, complexity, and originality to justify the purchase.
Traditional bourbon drinkers should find plenty to enjoy here. It is also the kind of release that rewards buying into the larger series. Because Maker’s Mark plans to let Star Hill Farm evolve rather than repeat itself, each bottle captures a different stage of the experiment.
We would happily buy another bottle, and we will be paying attention when the next version arrives.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
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Care Instructions
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Wipe clean with a damp or soft, non-abrasive cloth
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Air dry thoroughly before storing
