Maker's Mark Isn't Just Crafting Whisky, It's Building an Ecosystem
Published: 26 May 2025
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Hit the bourbon trail through Kentucky and you'll eventually find yourself flanked by vast stretches of rolling hills and thick forest, punctuated by famous distilleries. Here in this picturesque rural landscape, the Maker's Mark Distillery occupies its own little corner of the universe. Journeying past the large gates feels like you're entering some sort of highbrow amusement park, and the experience that awaits on the other side doesn't exactly dissuade you of that impression. What it does do, however, is see this ubiquitous brand entirely defy expectations.
Indeed, it's easy to see a bottle of Maker's Mark sitting on the shelf at the nearest bar, coated in its signature red wax, and imagine a faceless corporation that automates every spare detail while imparting a false sense of craftsmanship. That makes it all the more surprising when you enter the distillery's domain, a 1,100-acre property known as Star Hill Farm, to discover an operation in progress that, to use the distillery's latest campaign tagline, is 'perfectly unreasonable'. Similarly surprising is the clear dedication to sustainability and regenerative agriculture.
Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery
The examples of this are numerous. Repurposing used glass to create pathways and artwork. Supplying free stillage, i.e. the waste that results from production, to nearby farmers as a food source for livestock. Establishing the largest white oak research forest in all of America, where scientists genetically map white oak trees in the hopes of improving resilience. Using sheep to graze the grass and solar panels to generate power, and local bee colonies to promote biodiversity. Striving for zero waste while duly earning B-Corp certification. Controlling virtually every aspect of the water supply. All of it on location.
When sourcing grain for its whisky (spelled 'whisky' as a nod to Maker's Mark's Scottish roots), the distillery works primarily with Regenerative Certified farms. It has also established the Maker's Mark Regenerative Alliance with the goal of working exclusively with farms that employ regenerative practices by the end of the year. At home, meanwhile, the Maker's Mark team is growing its own wheat crops and experimenting with various strains. There may even come a time when Maker's Mark is executing every aspect of production, from grain to bottle, right there at Star Hill Farm.
Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery
Not One Corner Cut
None of the above may sound perfectly unreasonable until you consider the alternatives for an operation of this size. A company could easily save money by resorting to cheaper practices across the board. Then again, the commitment to sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and in-house farming can pay off over time. It can also keep Maker's Mark ahead of the curve from a marketing perspective, as more consumers pursue ethical standards from their brands of choice.
But clever marketing is par for the course at Maker's Mark, a label that was at least partly built on branding ingenuity (and isn't afraid to own it). For that, we have Margie Samuels, wife of co-founder Bill Samuels Sr., to thank. It was Margie who devised the original logo and the iconic red wax seal, dipping the very first bottles in her own kitchen. Her presence looms large over the industry with her image even gracing the annals at the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Combine her marketing savvy with the Maker's Mark evergreen mashbill, and you essentially get the invention of premium bourbon as a category.
Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery
Back at the distillery, one passes through the Margie Samuels vestibule to arrive at the bottling facility, where a small team dips each bottle in red wax by hand. In a nearby building, two employees print the bottle labels on 1930s printing presses. As an observer, the sense of perfect unreasonableness grows palpable, and while you could argue there's a performative aspect at play here, giving people what they want has always been a strong business model.
When it comes to its whisky portfolio, Maker's Mark has been impressively reserved since its founding in 1953. Until recently, the majority of the brand's flagship bourbons were higher-proof versions of that iconic mainstay. Then there's the delicious Maker's Mark 46, finished with French Oak staves, along with a handful of limited edition releases like Wood Finishing, Cellar Aged, and Private Selection. And that's pretty much it.
Change is afoot, however, in the form of an exciting brand-new release.
Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery
Introducing Star Hill Farm Whisky
We could go on (and on) about the recent trip to Kentucky, which included an all-access pass to horse-racing venue Keeneland for a day at the races. Before that was a cocktail party at the home of Bill Samuels Jr., son of Bill Sr. and Margie, who regaled us with legendary stories and mind-blowing artefacts. For example, did he just point to the oldest-known sealed bottle of American whiskey? Quite possibly, although there's a common saying in these parts: 'Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.'
But we digress. After all, the purpose of our trip was to explore the distillery and sample the team's latest milestone. It goes by the name of Star Hill Farm Whisky and veers off label to stand firmly on its own two feet. Marrying two mashbills, one consisting of 70 per cent soft red winter wheat and 30 per cent malted barley, and the other being 100 per cent malted soft red winter wheat, it pays homage to the power of regenerative agriculture, and also just so happens to be an outstanding whisky.
Not only is it off-label, Star Hill Farm is the distillery's first-ever wheat whisky. Unlike 'wheated' whisky (which pertains to pretty much any whisky containing wheat), 'wheat' whisky must come from a mashbill of at least 51 per cent wheat. This one clears the qualifying hurdle with room to spare and an exceptional taste to match. Bottled at cask strength, it delivers an undiluted and flavour-packed profile, opening on a rich nose of caramel, raisin, gingerbread, and grain. Next comes a silky palate of toffee, cherry, raisin, malted wheat, and apple pie, followed by a warm and spicy finish of oak, cinnamon, and toasted pecan. It's a certified winner.
Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery
Maker's Mark refers to its output as 'nature distilled' and runs with this theme through every aspect of production. The vast and thriving property on which the distillery is built is becoming an ecosystem unto itself, while the newest release highlights the importance of quality grain and regenerative farming. And again, it's also just a superlative sipper from one of the world's most iconic distilleries.
If you're a lover of American whisky, you should put a trip to Maker's Mark on your bucket list. You won't be disappointed. Even beyond everything we've discussed, there's so much more to discover; we didn't mention the Chihuly glass exhibitions, the innovative cocktails, the cave-like cellar, the watershed, the truffle-sniffing dog, or Star Hill Provisions Restaurant, where we enjoyed the best meal of our entire trip. Perfectly unreasonable perhaps, but the Maker's Mark Distillery and its Star Hill Farm Whisky offer a promising vision of whisky's sustainable future.
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7NEWS
06-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Where does Australia stand if WWIII begins?
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The experts also noted Australia hosts a series of major US military and intelligence bases, including Pine Gap joint defence station outside Alice Springs and the Tindal Air Base within the Northern Territory. 'The US has so many bases here — command and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — they would be used on the first day of the war unless there was a very active Australian government move to deny use of these facilities, which won't happen,' Tanter said. Pine Gap's function goes beyond conventional military action, he said. 'Pine Gap is involved in nuclear command, control and communications, and warning.' 'In that sense, we are highly involved in the nuclear policy of the United States.' Hosting B-52 Bombers raises risk profile Australia has just signed an agreement to host US nuclear-capable B-52 bombers at the RAAF Tindal air base, further inserting Australia into US strategic thinking. While the aircraft won't deploy nuclear weapons while based here, Tanter warned that this action was a shift in Australia's role. 'This is a step from communications and control to deployment,' he said. 'Refuelling tankers will be based here, and Australian fighter jets will be providing escort cover.' 'We are part of the deployment system.' 'You don't necessarily need to have the bomb here to be in the nuclear command structure.' Strategic target in world war Inclusion of Australia within US military bases also makes it a potential target in a global war. 'China will understandably interpret Australia's deepening defence ties with the US as a threat to its own interests, will not approve of this position, and seek to consistently denounce it as destabilising,' Wilkins said. On the other hand, Tanter said we are not likely to face a threat from Iran. 'China has the missile capability and numbers to realistically target Pine Gap, and Australian governments have acknowledged this risk since the Cold War,' he said. 'However, despite having political tensions with Australia, Iran lacks both the long-range missile technology and the resources to reach targets 10,000km away, like Australia.' 'It does not possess intercontinental ballistic missiles, so a direct attack is highly unlikely under current circumstances.' Lessons from history Wilkins made comparisons with Australia's position during World War II. 'Australia put its faith in a weakening 'great power ally' to defend it (the UK), whilst not doing nearly enough to prepare its national military capabilities should this strategy fail, as it did with the fall of Singapore in February 1942,' he said. He warned that Australia is not prepared to face a third global war. 'The lack of psychological and material preparation for a major conflict in Australia at the present time ensures that war will be more costly to the nation than otherwise, again mirroring the experience of the Allies in the first part of the Pacific War.' Conscription technically possible Tanter believes that conscription could be reinstated in the event of a large war, although politically it is impossible. 'It's just a matter of decision and law,' he said. 'But the way the conscription worked back in the Vietnam War, it was highly unpopular, and conscripts were not particularly suited for most combat opportunities.' Room for independent policy shrinking Australia has some room for independent decision-making in conflicts involving the US, but this would come at significant political cost. 'In the event of a US-China war, Australia could act independently, but probably only at the cost of the alliance,' Tanter said. Australia has already locked itself into a subordinate role, he said. 'We've chosen to be technologically tied to the Americans, which restricts our options.' Moral questions remain Australia's alliances raise tough moral questions as tensions escalate. Tanter was critical of the Australian role in global conflicts and the broader narrative about defending a 'rules-based order'. 'There are no clean hands here,' he said, referencing recent conflicts such as the war in Gaza. 'The US and Israel are engaged in what I regard as ethnic cleansing or genocide.' 'In those circumstances, I think we need to have a policy like the Whitlam government had in 1973 — that we don't take sides.' As tensions rise globally, Australia's path may already be set — not by choice, but by alliance.
Man of Many
03-07-2025
- Man of Many
Breguet's First-Ever Flying Tourbillon is a ‘Mysterious' Ode to the Master
By Jacob Osborn - News Published: 3 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Iconic watchmaker Breguet has announced the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 , the fourth chapter in its 250th anniversary celebrations. , the fourth chapter in its 250th anniversary celebrations. The release date, the 26th of June 2025, is in homage to the 26th of June 1801, when Abraham-Louis Breguet obtained a patent for his invention of the tourbillon . . Limited to just 50 timepieces, the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 represents the first Breguet model to feature a 'flying tourbillon'. We love ourselves a great mystery and a great timepiece, and Breguet has delivered both in its latest anniversary watch. Visually stunning at first sight, the latest Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 also emanates with historical significance, astronomical implications, and mechanical brilliance. Its release date of 26 June 2025 marks 224 years since the tourbillon mechanism was patented by founder Abraham-Louis Breguet himself. To honour this enduring benchmark, the watchmaker has introduced its first-ever flying tourbillon, complete with a 'mysterious' design that was years in the making. Breguet was founded in 1775, and so the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 arrives on the watchmaker's 250th anniversary while simultaneously commemorating the original tourbillon patent. Not only does it represent the brand's first flying tourbillon, but also their first use of aventurine enamel on the dial. The unique enamel pays tribute to astronomy and early observations of the starry night sky, with a celestial sparkle that adorns an otherwise deep blue dial face. Call it the perfect touch of subtle detail on the transfixing display, and a deft reminder of the founder's astronomical fixations. Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU | Image: Supplied Indeed, the very word 'Sidéral' loosely translates to 'related to the stars or constellations,' and draws upon astronomical timekeeping (based not on the sun but the fixed position of the stars). The watch further corresponds with astronomy through its use of a tourbillon. In the 17th century, mathematician Blaise Pascal expanded upon the meaning of tourbillon to describe a 'material system animated with rotational motion,' applying the concept to planetary systems. In the horological realm, the tourbillon remains directly linked to astronomy, even as it continues to evolve. And now we arrive at the flying tourbillon itself, as presented on Breguet's new anniversary release. Perched inside an elegant cage on the dial face, the complex mechanism differs from its traditional counterparts through the absence of an upper bar. It thus appears suspended in space as if untethered to the laws of gravity. Breguet CEO Gregory Kissling | Image: Breguet This particular iteration goes one step further by eschewing a pivot at the top to anchor all the support at the base, resulting in better balance and improved adjustability. Meanwhile, the lower support system is made of sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating, rendering the point of contact between the gears and carriage invisible to enhance the suspended effect. Gaze upon this feat of engineering and behold a tourbillon that appears to be truly flying in place, something Breguet CEO Gregory Kissling marks as a true brand-first. 'It is, quite simply, the very first time in Breguet's history that a flying tourbillon is being introduced. A beautiful way to celebrate its 224th anniversary,' Kissling said. 'And the tourbillon model we chose to reinterpret is no ordinary one: among the tourbillon movements in Breguet's archives, it is the one used in the very first Breguet tourbillon wristwatch, unveiled in 1990 under reference 3350. 'Invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, the tourbillon remains one of the most complex complications in watchmaking. Its mastery embodies the technical excellence to which the House of Breguet has remained faithful for more than two centuries,' the Breguet CEO continued. 'The Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 thus pays homage to that iconic timepiece and to the master's invention. I would even go so far as to say that this creation is an ode to the tourbillon itself, where time indication is almost secondary…' Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU | Image: Supplied Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU | Image: Supplied Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU | Image: Supplied Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU | Image: Supplied Over two centuries after A.-L. Breguet patented the tourbillon mechanism, his namesake manufacture carries forth his vision of supreme robustness and accuracy. It took the watchmaker years to master the 'mysterious' complication that debuts on the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255, which cranks up the flying effect. Combine that with a slew of superlative materials and details – including 18K Breguet gold elements, a handmade guilloché case back, and the aforementioned aventurine enamel dial – and you're looking at a masterpiece on multiple fronts. Some things go beyond mere words, no matter how much we attempt to describe them. The celestial universe around us is one. Breguet's Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 is another. Limited to just 50 units, it's available for approximately USD$226,000. Buy us one, will you? Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU | Image: Supplied Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU Brand : Breguet : Breguet Model : Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 : Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 Reference : Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU : Ref. 7255BH/2Y/9VU Diameter : 38mm : 38mm Thickness : 10.2mm : 10.2mm Movement : Hand-wound Calibre 187M1 : Hand-wound Calibre 187M1 Power Reserve : 50 hours : 50 hours Availability : Limited to 50 pieces : Limited to 50 pieces Price: USD$226,000
The Age
29-06-2025
- The Age
In a world of conflict, the spoils are rich from gold and guns
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated that global military expenditure hit a record $US2.7 trillion ($4.1 trillion) in 2024, an increase of 9.4 per cent in real terms from the previous year, and the steepest annual jump since the Cold War ended. 'If 5 per cent [of GDP] becomes baseline, defence stocks stop being cyclical – they become structural. And that changes everything.' Stephen Innes, SPI Asset Management SIPRI highlighted the 'guns or butter' cost to social programs from the rising spending on weaponry. 'As governments increasingly prioritise military security, often at the expense of other budget areas, the economic and social trade-offs could have significant effects on societies for years to come,' warned SIPRI researcher Xiao Liang. The big beneficiaries from this war trade are traditionally US defence giants, such as Northrop Grumman – maker of the B-2 stealth bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles – which is now trading near multi-year highs. Virginia-based RTX, which makes the Javelin and Stinger missiles that were used heavily in the Ukraine war, has also hit record highs. But the changing nature of warfare, where computer-guided drones and new technology such as AI are coming to the fire, has thrown up some new winners. Shares of US tech group Palantir have soared more than 400 per cent in a year as the company cements its place in the US industrial military complex. And investors are also noticing the impact in Europe, where Germany's new government signalled a seismic shift in March, with plans to lift strict spending controls to create a €500 billion ($896 billion) fund for defence and security. It has had a massive impact on European stocks. Italy-based aerospace, defence and security firm Leonardo, German sensor technology company Hensoldt, and British aerospace and defence company Babcock International have seen their share prices more than double over the last year. Korea's Hanwha Aerospace is another EU beneficiary, and its share price has soared 200 per cent over the same period. Even Australia benefits, as shown by Hanwha recently acquiring a 9.9 per cent stake in local shipbuilder Austal, with plans to double its investment. Austal shares have tripled since last September, thanks to its contracts with the US Navy. ASX-listed DroneShield – a maker of anti-drone technology – has tripled since February. And right on cue, it announced a $61 million European military order on Wednesday for handheld detection and counter-drone systems. This one deal exceeds its entire revenue for 2024. Three ASX-listed defence ETFs (exchange-traded funds, which invest in defence stocks globally) from VanEck, Betashares and Global X are all up 50 per cent this year. 'Global defence has been one of the few equity segments that have outperformed the market this year. Flows into ASX-listed global defence ETFs have shot up since March,' VanEck's Jamie Hannah said. The surge in the performance of defence stocks has posed a conundrum for some ethical funds and investment mandates, which have generally precluded any military assets. But investors appear to be coming to the conclusion that Citi reached in 2022: 'Defence is likely to be increasingly seen as a necessity that facilitates ESG as an enterprise as well as maintaining peace, stability and other social goods.' In April, UBS Asset Management – which oversees $US1.8 trillion in investments – scrapped prohibitions that prevented its sustainable funds from investing in conventional military weapons manufacturers. Exclusions still apply to more controversial weaponry such as cluster munitions. Hannah says VanEck already screens out these more controversial manufacturers from its ETF. 'It's very much an area where you need to consider what you're investing in,' Hannah said. Meanwhile, the only controversy over the ultimate defensive asset, gold, is whether it has peaked after a spectacular run over the past year to a record high of $US3500 an ounce in April. This month, a European Central Bank report confirmed that its soaring price, along with bullion buying by central banks, means gold is currently the second-biggest reserve holding by central banks behind the US dollar. Citi highlighted the extraordinary rush to gold with a report saying 0.5 per cent of global GDP was being spent on gold – the most in 50 years of data. And central banks have not been the only buyers. This month, VanEck noted that Australia's most recent export figures included $11 billion in 'non-monetary' gold exports to the US – which is gold acquired by private buyers, not reserve banks, for their foreign exchange reserves. 'This volume of gold exports for the quarter is more than the total non-monetary gold we have shipped to the USA in the last four years, and we think this could reflect a massive increase in demand from investors due to a loss of faith in [the US dollar] and US Treasuries,' VanEck's Cameron McCormack said. While some are getting squeamish after this year's 27 per cent gain for the precious metal, others are expecting its golden run to continue. Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs predicts gold will climb to $US3700 a troy ounce by the end of the year, from about $US3330 currently, as central banks keep buying tonnes of it every month. 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