Maker’s Mark announced the debut of Star Hill Farm Whisky, the distillery’s first new mashbill and first wheat whiskey, celebrating the role regenerative agriculture plays in creating healthier soil, better flavor and a more sustainable future. 

The annual release will be available in the United States and the United Kingdom beginning in mid-May and in Australia later in 2025. With its launch, Maker’s Mark is scaling its sustainability efforts by establishing The Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance and has committed to transitioning a million acres of conventional farmland to regenerative over the next three years.

“We are proud to share Star Hill Farm Whisky with the world — a 10-year journey to unlock nature’s depth of flavor, resulting in something new from the Maker’s Mark Distillery,” Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark, said in a news release. “The launch of Star Hill Farm Whisky will expand our platform to advance regenerative agriculture beyond our business, fostering a more sustainable future for our industry, people and planet.”

While Maker’s Mark has used the same mashbill for over 70 years to create a balanced and consistent bourbon, Star Hill Farm Whisky will evolve each year, exploring flavors that soil, wheat, water and wood impart to quality ingredients when expertly blended, aged and grown regeneratively. 

The inaugural release will highlight soft red winter wheat — the distinctive grain in Maker’s Mark’s mashbill — and will remove corn entirely, allowing the wheat to shine. The 2025 release of Star Hill Farm Whisky is crafted from two mashbills: one with 70% soft red winter wheat and 30% malted barley, and the other with 100% malted soft red winter wheat.

“We’re proud to introduce the first wheat whiskey in our distillery’s history, one that showcases our vision and innovation and honors the land that makes it all possible,” Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller, Maker’s Mark, said. “This release is a complex yet balanced blend of seven- and eight-year whiskies, bottled uncut at cask strength.”

Partnering to Advance Regenerative Agriculture

Star Hill Farm Whisky is named after the 1,100-acre farm that is home to the Maker’s Mark Distillery, chosen by its founders, Margie and Bill Samuels Sr., in 1953 for its unique water source and proximity to grain growers. Maker’s Mark still owns, protects and enriches its watershed and land. 

Today, Maker’s Mark is the first and only bourbon distillery to achieve B Corp Certification in Kentucky and the first distillery globally to achieve certification from Regenified, the leading regenerative certification company.

With the launch of Star Hill Farm Whisky, Maker’s Mark has formed an alliance with Regenified and Understanding Ag, which provides education and technical support to build healthy farm ecosystems. The Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance will invite farms, bars and restaurants — starting in New York, Kentucky and greater London — to join its mission: pledging to adopt regenerative practices in sourcing and operations, while promoting its benefits through menu storytelling and consumer engagement.

Star Hill Farm Whisky will be the first to carry an Estate Whiskey certification — a new designation by The Estate Whiskey Alliance group established by the University of Kentucky to highlight the advantages of local sourcing and sustainable production in the whiskey industry. Estate whiskey refers to a category that is produced entirely on the distillery estate, using grains sourced from estate owned or controlled land.

With an ABV of 57.35% (114.7 proof), the Star Hill Farm Whisky 2025 Release will have a suggested retail price of USD $100. In the United States, the limited release will be available at select retailers nationwide and available for purchase at the Maker’s Mark Distillery by booking a Star Hill Farm Whisky experience at https://www.makersmark.com//distillery/visit-us.

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ABOUT MAKER’S MARK

Maker’s Mark began with the innovative spirit of Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr., who in 1953, fulfilled their dream to create a delicious bourbon without the bite, using soft red winter wheat instead of rye to enhance the softness, sweetness and signature creaminess. Maker’s Mark is handmade, hand-dipped in our signature red wax, and every barrel continues to be rotated by hand and is aged to taste not time. For more information, please visit www.starhillfarm.com and www.makersmark.com.