Maker's Mark Dan Issel 2013 Bourbon / 45% / 1.0l

The Samuels family, founders of Maker's Mark Distillery, have been actively supporting local charities and higher utility associations for years.

Each year, the distillery releases a limited edition of the bourbon, with profits going to the aforementioned organizations. The bottles of the 2013 edition were decorated with the likeness of American basketball star Dan Issel. Born in 1948, Issel played for the Kentucky Wildcats college team from 1967 to 1970 and was one of the league's top scorers, averaging 25.7 points per game. He developed his professional career with the Denver Nuggets, whom he later coached. The edition named after him consisted of 20,000 bottles, and the profit from its sale (about $175,000) went to the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute in Lexington, which specializes in the treatment of heart disease.

Aroma : honey, vanilla, dry orange peel, dried dates, raisins, milk chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak.

Palate : sweet, vanilla, milkshake, honey, cocoa powder, peaches, raisins, roasted nuts, notes of tobacco and oak.

Finish: long, with notes of caramel, vanilla, honey, orange peel and oak.