Maker’s Mark Distillery sits on 1,000 acres in Loretto, Kentucky, about 50 miles south of Louisville in the heart of bourbon country. Bill Samuels Sr. founded the distillery in 1953 after purchasing the historic Burks’ Distillery site, which had been producing whiskey since the 1840s. The property features the original limestone buildings alongside newer structures, all painted in Maker’s Mark’s signature red and black colors. They produce their famous wheated bourbon using a recipe that Samuels developed by burning his family’s 170-year-old rye recipe and starting fresh. The story goes that Bill Sr. wanted to create a bourbon that wouldn’t “blow your ears off,” so he replaced the traditional rye with red winter wheat to make a smoother whiskey. His wife Margie designed the distinctive hand-dipped red wax seal and chose the name Maker’s Mark to reflect the craftsmanship tradition. Today, the distillery is run by Bill Samuels Jr. and his son Rob, making it truly a three-generation family operation. Master Distiller Jane Bowie, who joined in 2019, oversees production using the same copper pot stills and aging processes that have defined the brand for decades. The campus includes multiple rickhouses where bourbon ages for around six years, plus the original distillery buildings that are now National Historic Landmarks.