The Maker’s Mark 1996 Blue Denim Limited Edition is a vintage collectible from Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky — produced in 1996 and bottled in the brand’s iconic red-wax-dipped format in a distinctive blue denim-wrapped presentation. Nearly 30 years old, this is a genuine piece of Maker’s Mark history and one of the more unusual limited edition presentations from the brand.
Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon — using red winter wheat in place of rye in the mashbill, which produces the brand’s characteristic smooth, sweet, and approachable profile. The 1996 expression predates many of Maker’s current programs and reflects the distillery’s classic house style. The blue denim presentation was a limited promotional release of the era, making intact bottles increasingly difficult to source.
Tasting Notes
Classic Maker’s Mark wheated profile — caramel, vanilla, soft wheat sweetness, and gentle oak. Smooth and approachable with a long, warm finish. As a nearly 30-year-old sealed expression, note that some evolution from time in bottle may be present.
Specs
Distillery: Maker’s Mark Distillery, Loretto, Kentucky
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Wheated)
Vintage: 1996
Presentation: Blue Denim Limited Edition
Size: 1 Liter
Browse all Maker’s Mark and rare and allocated bottles at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maker’s Mark Blue Denim edition?
A limited promotional release from 1996 featuring the standard Maker’s Mark wheated Kentucky straight bourbon in a distinctive blue denim-wrapped presentation bottle with the iconic red wax seal. At nearly 30 years old, intact sealed bottles are increasingly rare collector finds.
What is wheated bourbon?
A bourbon that uses wheat rather than rye as the secondary grain in the mashbill. Wheat produces a softer, sweeter, and more approachable flavor profile than rye — less spice, more caramel and vanilla. Maker’s Mark is one of the most recognized wheated bourbons, alongside Pappy Van Winkle and W.L. Weller.
