This year in 2025, Maker's Mark opened a whole new book where it would step into the world of wheat whiskies - not Bourbon - with its Star Hill Farm series.

But make no mistake, this was no small decision. Maker's Mark had in fact worked on this project for 10 years, committing great effort to exploring regenerative agriculture that goes beyond business - a true sustainability effort indeed!

The concept here, based on the very 1,100-acre plot named Star Hill Farm, was to make use of sustainably grown sift red winter wheat. The project has been designed to make Maker's Mark the first and only B Corp certified Bourbon distillery in Kentucky, and also the first distillery in the world to receive the Regenified accreditation, with the Star Hill Farm Whisky that's made entirely from and on the site, carrying the Estate Whiskey certification that highlights the use of local sourcing and sustainable production in the whisky industry.

And so for this new chapter, Maker's Mark has also endeavoured to create new mashbills to support the project, departing from its hallmark Bourbons and blending the use of soft red winter wheat, malted soft red winter wheat and malted barley. The distillery has stated that each annual release will continue to evolve as the distillery explores the flavours that can be created through the varied soil, wheat, water and wood that goes into the whisky.

With the 2025 inaugural release of the Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky checked, it appears that we can now look forward to 2026's release!

For the Star Hill Farm 2026 Release, 51% Soft Red Winter Wheat, 27% Malted Soft Red Winter Wheat and 22% Malted Barley will be used for its mashbill, with all grains harvested, distilled and barreled in Fall 2016 and Fall 2017. It will be bottled 57.35% ABV (114.7 Proof).

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team