Maker’s Mark today unveiled the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary limited edition — a bottling of its signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky honoring America’s semiquincentennial year. The release marks the first time the brand’s iconic red wax has been overlaid in white and capped with a blue rendition of its iconic seal, replacing the all-red wax treatment Margie Samuels designed in 1953. Available June 1 at select retailers nationwide, $28.99, 90 proof.

A portion of proceeds benefits Farmer Veteran Coalition, the national nonprofit that has spent 17 years building pathways for U.S. veterans into agriculture and has helped more than 58,000 veterans build meaningful careers in farming. The Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary release threads three commitments the Loretto, Kentucky distillery has been operating from for years: veterans support, regenerative agriculture, and the design discipline of the original Margie Samuels bottle.

Inside the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary Bottle Design

The design read is what makes the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary release significant beyond the cultural moment it pegs to. Margie Samuels created the hand-dipped red wax in 1953 and it has remained the brand’s most consistent visual signature for more than seven decades. The seal underneath the wax, also designed by Margie, has been rendered in red since the first bottle left the distillery.

The 250th Anniversary edition is the first bottle in the brand’s history to layer white wax over the red dip and stamp the iconic seal in blue. The result is a quietly patriotic treatment — red, white, and blue — without any of the heavier visual cues that usually accompany a commemorative release.

The editorial photography surrounding the release reinforces the restraint. Red, white, and blue confetti scattered against a soft cream backdrop. No flags, no fireworks, no eagles. The bottle is allowed to do its own work, and the visual language stays within the brand’s existing register rather than reaching for stadium-grade Americana.

Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary and the Farmer Veteran Coalition Partnership

Farmer Veteran Coalition has been building infrastructure for veterans entering agriculture since 2009. Over 58,000 U.S. veterans have moved through FVC programs — the Holistic Impactful Veteran Engagement (H.I.V.E.) Program, the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, and the Homegrown By Heroes consumer label that lets farmer-veterans signal their service through retail labeling. Membership is free for all veterans.

Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark, framed the partnership around twin service — veterans who wore the uniform now building careers in the fields, with the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary release giving the brand a way to honor both.

The veterans work isn’t new for Maker’s Mark. The brand has released annual limited editions tied to Veterans Day and Memorial Day for years, and runs a “By Vets, For Vets” Private Selection program — a custom barrel developed by its Service Veterans employee group and sold exclusively at military base retail outlets, with proceeds going to veteran-focused organizations. The 250th Anniversary partnership with Farmer Veteran Coalition extends rather than initiates this commitment.

Star Hill Farm, Regenerative Agriculture, and the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary

The agricultural through-line is what makes the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary release feel coherent rather than opportunistic. Maker’s Mark holds both B Corp and Regenified certifications, anchored at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky. The brand has spent the past decade rebuilding its operations around regenerative practices — rotating every barrel by hand, working toward healthier soil and more resilient farm ecosystems.

The Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance is the brand’s program for advancing those practices beyond its own land. More than 58,000 acres of conventional farmland have already been converted to certified regenerative practices, with 14-plus farm, bar, and restaurant partners signed on. Last month’s Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 release was the most visible recent expression of the program.

The 250th Anniversary release lands inside that same arc. Richard Creppel, the FVC Regional Director and a US Army veteran himself, has positioned the partnership as a shared commitment to land stewardship — investing in veteran farmers who are leading regenerative practices supports both individual livelihoods and the longer-term resilience of American agriculture. The Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary bottle is one piece of revenue inside that program, not a standalone gesture.

Where to Find the Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary Limited Edition

The Maker’s Mark 250th Anniversary limited edition will be available at select retailers nationwide beginning June 1, 2026. The bottle is Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky — the brand’s flagship expression, made with the soft red winter wheat that Margie and Bill Samuels Sr. introduced in 1953 to soften the bourbon profile of the era. Bottled at 90 proof, suggested retail price $28.99.

The pricing decision is worth noting. Maker’s Mark could have positioned this release in the $75 Wood Finishing Series range and built it as a collector’s bottle. The brand chose not to. At $28.99, the 250th Anniversary edition is built for gift contexts and the broader summer of semiquincentennial gatherings — not the vault. Maker’s Mark wants this bottle in circulation.

Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 is the second annual release from Maker’s Mark’s first new mash bill in 70 years — and this time it arrives carrying the title of World’s Best Wheat Whisky 2026 from the World Whiskies Awards. This is not a bourbon. It is an American wheat whisky built from estate-grown grains at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky, designed to evolve every year as the harvest changes. Where the standard Maker’s Mark lineup has run on the same recipe since 1953, Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 is the opposite proposition — a bottle that will never be made the same way twice, bottled at cask strength and priced at $100.

What Changed in Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026

The 2025 debut spotlighted soft red winter wheat — the signature grain in the Maker’s Mark mash bill. Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 pushes further by introducing hard red and hard white wheat varietals, demonstrating how grain diversity translates into depth through distillation, maturation, and blending.

The final blend is built from two mash bills — one composed entirely of malted wheat, another combining 70 percent wheat with 30 percent malted barley — and lands at 27 percent wheat, 62 percent malted wheat, and 11 percent malted barley. The result is a darker, more layered aromatic profile with a rounder structure and amplified fruit notes compared to the inaugural release. Master Distiller Dr. Blake Layfield described the shift directly — the first release was bright, approachable, and straightforward, and the 2026 edition dials up the complexity.

How Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 Drinks

Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 is a blend of seven- and eight-year-old whiskies bottled at cask strength — 58.2 percent ABV, or 116.4 proof. It opens with aromas of molasses, fig, and delicate baking spices, moves into zesty citrus, ripe pear, and buttery shortbread on the palate, and finishes with soft cinnamon. The premium American whisky category keeps delivering expressions that reward patience and attention, and Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 belongs in that conversation — a cask-strength pour that evolves from first sip to finish without rushing you through any of it.

Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 Beyond the Glass

Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 carries Estate Whiskey certification from the Estate Whiskey Alliance — a program established by the University of Kentucky recognizing whiskey produced entirely on the distillery estate using estate-grown grains. It was the first whisky to earn that certification in 2025, and the 2026 release continues it. Maker’s Mark is both B Corp and Regenified Certified, and the distillery’s Regenerative Alliance has already helped convert 58,000 acres of conventional farmland to certified regenerative practices.

Rob Samuels — eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director — framed the philosophy simply: his grandparents built Maker’s Mark on the belief that investing in the land gives back in flavor.

When two American icons—Maker’s Mark and the Los Angeles Dodgers—join forces, the result is more than a collectible bottle of bourbon. The newly unveiled Makers Mark Champion Selection x Los Angeles Dodgers Bourbon is a heartfelt tribute to the team’s 2024 World Series championship season, as well as a powerful tool for charitable impact.

This collaboration is driven by a shared commitment to excellence and a strong sense of community. Maker’s Mark has donated the first barrel—approximately 275 bottles— to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), with proceeds supporting wildfire relief and recovery efforts throughout Los Angeles. While the Dodgers celebrate on the field, this bourbon ensures their legacy resonates far beyond the ballpark.

Makers Mark Champion Selection: The Flavor of a Championship

Crafted as part of the brand’s Private Selection program, the Makers Mark Champion Selection Bourbon reflects the same dedication to detail that defines a championship team. Bottled at a bold yet smooth 112.1 proof, it delivers a layered and memorable tasting experience that speaks to seasoned palates.

On the nose, there’s a buttery sweetness reminiscent of caramel-coated popcorn—a subtle nod to stadium snacks, elevated by bourbon’s oak-forward maturity. The first sip reveals spiced roasted peanuts, carrying a salty-savory edge that transitions into warm baking spices—cinnamon, clove, and a hint of nutmeg. The finish lingers with structure, bringing a warmth that feels both nostalgic and celebratory.

This is no mass-market tribute. The Makers Mark Champion Selection x Los Angeles Dodgers collab is a thoughtfully crafted bourbon that honors both the craft of whiskey making and the electrifying energy of a championship season. It’s complex without being showy, bold without being brash—just like the team it honors.

Makers Mark Champion Selection: Where and How to Get It

The first 275 bottles from the initial barrel have been earmarked exclusively for LADF charitable initiatives. Fans who donate $500 or more to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation during home games will receive a complimentary bottle of the Makers Mark Champion Selection x Los Angeles Dodgers Bourbon, while supplies last. These bottles will also be featured in online charity auctions through MLB.com between June 25 and July 7, including select bottles signed by Maker’s Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels.

Beyond the charity release, a limited number of bottles will hit select retailers across Greater Los Angeles, priced at a suggested retail of $74.99.

The Makers Mark Champion Selection x Los Angeles Dodgers Bourbon does something that few limited-edition bottles manage to do: it bridges celebration with substance. This isn’t just about branding or sports memorabilia—it’s about craftsmanship being used as a conduit for good. From supporting families affected by wildfires to giving fans a piece of their team’s triumphant season, this bourbon becomes more than a spirit. It becomes a symbol.

In the ever-expanding world of collectible bourbons, this bottle stands out—not only for its flavor profile and proof point but for the intention behind it. It’s a bottle worth opening, toasting, and reflecting on—just as you would a hard-fought championship win.

Maker’s Mark continues its celebrated tradition of exceptional craftsmanship with the latest addition to its renowned Wood Finishing Series: Maker’s Mark – The Keepers Release. This 2025 expression pays homage to the dedicated warehouse team responsible for maintaining the legacy of consistency and quality established by the brand’s founders.

Maker’s Mark Celebrates the Warehouse Team’s Dedication

The Wood Finishing Series is widely acclaimed for its innovative approach, utilizing unique wood stave-finishing techniques to accentuate specific characteristics within the bourbon. The Keepers Release showcases rich and complex oak-forward aromas complemented by notes of seasoned wood, brûléed sugar, and tobacco. It offers bourbon drinkers a robust and satisfying tasting experience, concluding with a lingering finish filled with dried dark fruit nuances and a deep roasted sweetness.

The Keepers Release is bottled at an assertive yet approachable 54.6% ABV (109.2 proof), making it an exceptional sipping experience. Bourbon aficionados and collectors alike can find this limited release at U.S. retailers priced at $74.99. As with all expressions from Maker’s Mark, expect availability to be limited due to high demand from bourbon enthusiasts seeking something genuinely special.

Enjoy responsibly.