Makers Mark (June 2005)
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Makers Mark is truly out in the middle of no where. The small map and directions on the website give you a false sense of security and leave you scratching your head. Leave plenty of extra time to find this one.
Makers Mark is the Disneyland of bourbon distilleries. The tour was the most crowded on my trip with at least 25 people.
The grounds are very attractive and impeccably maintained with all the buildings painted to match.
The attractive tour guide belted out a well rehearsed description of all we saw, peppered with anecdotes for almost everything.
The bottling house is particularly interesting.
Four workers hand dip the bottles in the trade mark red plastic goo as they pass on the conveyor belt. The line moves at a good clip, and the 'dippers' have to have the process down cold.
The workers rotate between stations at frequent intervals for a change of pace and to help prevent repetitive motion strain.
The gift shop has everything imaginable, much of it dipped in red wax.
This tour stops by the column still and spirit safes, seen here.
This building houses the large cyprus fermenter tanks.
The tour stops at this barrel rickhouse where you stand in a fenced off area just inside the door.
The guide explains the barreling and aging process and you can examine a collection of cooper's tools on the wall.
