Maker's Mark Coffee

It's logged some time in the freezer since the epic Bourbon Trail 2012 road trip to the distilleries of Kentucky, but the Maker's Mark whole bean coffee finally came out for a taste. Wasn't sure what to expect - totally bought it as a novelty souvenir - was expecting anything from synthetic bourbon flavoring to weak brew or just plain overpowering. Pleasantly surprising! Maker's Mark coffee is a light blend, with unmistakable bourbon flavor - genuine, not too 'manufactured.' The finish is light and pleasant, too; the only thing missing is the alcoholic kick.

My tastes lean stronger than most people, choosing dark roasts over most flavored varieties, on occasion there are one or two I find drinkable (notably, a chocolate raspberry blend that Ghiradelli no longer makes. *sniff*) ...usually when I am drinking from a pot all day long. Personally I wish the bean had a more robust character, but it would likely be a harder sell to the general public. You could blend it with a stronger roast possibly, but probably at risk of losing the bourbon flavor since the coffee is not actually spiked with spirits. Not something I'm going to rush out to stock up on, but it's certainly worthy of having again and gift giving.

The good news is you don't have to go to Kentucky to get it - it retails online for about $12.95 for 10oz. of whole bean or ground. (**Note: If you do wind up shopping for it...I also highly recommend getting some of their 'bourbon ball' chocolate candies...#omgdelish)