Key Takeaways:
- Maker's Mark unveils its first wheat whisky — ditching corn and its iconic red wax for a bold new direction.
- Each batch's flavor will evolve yearly based on farm conditions, paired with eco-conscious packaging like wheat-fiber labels and limestone-inspired corks.
- The launch kicks off with a pledge to convert 1 million farmland acres to regenerative agriculture, building on their B Corp leadership.
After 70 years of perfecting its signature bourbon, Maker's Mark is breaking new ground with the launch of Star Hill Farm Whisky.
The new spirit marks the brand's first non-bourbon expression and the first product to leave the distillery without its iconic red wax seal.
The new brand was developed in partnership with Turner Duckworth.
This innovative wheat whisky was launched on April 9 with a completely new mashbill that eliminates corn to showcase soft red winter wheat, the grain that gives Maker's Mark its distinctive character.
Maker’s Mark is releasing a wheat whiskey, Star Hill Farm Whisky, marking the first non-bourbon release in the company’s history. pic.twitter.com/RRg3JzkbJ1
— Bourbon News (@TheBourbonNews) April 8, 2025
In a statement to DesignRush, eight-generation whisky maker and Maker's Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels emphasized the brand's dedication to excellence.
"We've always been guided by our founders' — my grandparents' — pursuit of excellence, a higher purpose and their taste vision for Maker's Mark bourbon.
We've used the same mashbill to craft Maker's Mark for over 70 years; so you can imagine our relentless consideration before introducing the first non-bourbon distilled, bottled and shared from [our] Distillery.
[A]nd therefore, [it's] the first bottle from our homeplace not hand-dipped in our signature red wax. We are immensely proud of the whisky and equally inspired by the greater purpose behind it."
Samuels went on to highlight how the launch expands the brand's major sustainability commitments through The Maker's Mark Regenerative Alliance.
It aims to transition 1 million acres of conventional farmland to regenerative agriculture within three years.
This builds on Maker's leadership as the world's first Certified Regenified distillery and largest B Corp certified spirits producer.
Maker's Mark harnesses its bourbon credibility and brand recognition to introduce an innovative wheat whisky, proving heritage brands can still innovate without alienating loyalists.
By tying the launch to sustainability, they make experimentation feel like natural brand evolution rather than a risky departure.
Farm-to-Bottle Whisky Craftsmanship
Star Hill Farm Whisky's packaging reflects its agricultural roots through thoughtful product design.
A thick natural paper label incorporates recycled wheat fibers and waste from Maker's Mark label production, while embossed glass highlights the craftsmanship behind each bottle.
Editorial farm imagery showcases wheat in its natural state, and an agglomerated cork with a stone-like ceramic finish nods to Kentucky limestone
As the first to carry the new Estate Whiskey certification (established by the University of Kentucky's Estate Whiskey Alliance), it emphasizes local sourcing and sustainable production.
The $100 SRP whisky will debut in U.S. markets first before expanding to the U.K. and Australia later this year.
In related news, Redbreast Whiskey took over SXSW in March, launching the "Redbreast Unhidden" filmmaker award with actor Andrew Scott.
That same month, Fireball Whisky offered senior citizens the chance to win a lifetime supply of the cinnamon-flavored spirit.
