Wood Finishing Series: Does the Stewards Release Live Up to the Legacy?

Bourbon Review: Is the NEW Maker’s Mark "The Stewards" Release Happy day, everyone! Today on Your Bourbon Journey, Wayne and Rebecca are diving into the highly anticipated 2026 Maker’s Mark: The Stewards Release. This is the third of five entries in the second Wood Finishing Series, and we found a killer deal on it at Costco! "The Stewards" honors the hardworking operations team at Star Hill Farm—the folks who manage everything from fermentation to bottling. But does this bottle live up to the legacy of the people it celebrates? In this video, we break down the unique stave profile (10 virgin toasted American oak staves), the 109.8 proof point, and the complex flavor journey that goes from bright raw honey to dark chocolate and spicy black pepper. Whether you're a die-hard Maker's collector or just looking for a solid $60 bottle, you won't want to miss our honest thoughts on this 2026 release. In this video, we cover: * 🥃 Where we found it for $15 under MSRP. * 🥃 The technical specs: Mash bill, proof, and the "Steward" backstory. * 🥃 Nose, Palate, and Finish: From honey and vanilla to dark cocoa and barrel char. * 🥃 How it compares to previous Wood Finishing Series releases. If you enjoy our whiskey reviews, make sure to hit that Subscribe button and join our community of bourbon lovers! ### **Connect With Us & Support The Journey!** 🥃 **Become a Patron & Get Exclusive Content:** https://www.patreon.com/cw/YourBourbonJourney 🌐 **Visit Our Website:** https://yourbourbonjourney.com/ 🔔 **SUBSCRIBE HERE:** https://www.youtube.com/@YourBourbonJourney?sub_confirmation=1 📸 **Instagram:** https://www.instagram.com/yourbourbonjourney/ 👍 **Facebook:** https://www.facebook.com/YourBourbonJourney ❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌   2026 Maker’s Mark: The Stewards Release Classification:  Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Company: Suntory Global Spirits Distillery: Maker’s Mark Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley Age: NAS (at least 4 years) Proof: 109.8 MSRP: $74.99 Released: March 2026 Other: Wood finishing series Purchased: 04/01/26 for $59.99 at Costco in Evansville, IN ❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌ 🎥VIDEO CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Introduction: The 2026 Stewards Release 0:16 – How we found it (Costco Haul!) 0:47 – Technical Specs: Mash Bill & Stave Profile 2:58 – The Nose: Sweetness & Dark Chocolate 3:43 – The Taste: Raw Honey & Toasted Oak 5:28 – The Finish: Cinnamon, Pepper & Mouthfeel 6:46 – Value Discussion: Is it worth the MSRP? 7:51 – Final Thoughts & Cheers! 🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨 ❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly. #MakersMark #TheStewards #BourbonReview #WhiskeyTasting #WoodFinishingSeries #YourBourbon Journey #MakersMarkStewards #BourbonCollector #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyTube #WheatedBourbon #StarHillFarm #NewBourbon2026 #CostcoFinds #WhiskeyLover