One of America’s Most Historic Whiskey Makers Has a New $30 Bottle for Collectors

The legendary Kentucky brand changes its most signature bottle feature for America’s birthday.

Top of a glass bottle with red and white wax dripping down the neck against a beige background.

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By Ethan Brehm

Published May 14, 2026

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Collecting whiskey is no cheap hobby.

Even after two consecutive years of declining sales, the industry still has its hardcore fans who are willing to shell out extra cash for exclusive releases.

That said, Maker’s Mark has always been different, and now it’s releasing a rare bottle design to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

The best part? It costs the same as your classic everyday Maker’s Mark.

Bottle of Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon with red wax dripping down the neck. — Even outsiders know the red wax drip when they see it.

Wax poetic

If you know nothing about the world of whiskey, you can likely still recognize the Kentucky distillery’s signature red wax.

Introduced by founder Bill Samuel’s wife Margie, the hand-dipped wax has been dripping down the bottle’s neck ever since the brand launched in 1958, sealing the cork stopper underneath and also stamped on front (although recent packaging doesn’t feature the stamp as often).

Hands wearing black gloves holding a Maker's Mark whiskey bottle with red wax dripping from the top. — Each bottle of whiskey is hand-dipped at the distillery.

With a few exceptions, the wax has been colored exclusively in red. In recent years, Maker’s has started to play on tradition a bit.

Notable examples include the all-blue wax when racehorse American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2016 or a combination of red and blue when the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2015. For the first time in nearly two decades, Maker’s Mark layers three colors together, just like it did for a 2002 release that remembered the 9-11 attacks.

Bottle of Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky with red wax seal and scattered confetti on a beige surface. — The new red, white, and blue wax color scheme for the 250th birthday celebration of the US.

For America’s 250th-anniversary edition, the classic red drapes down over a white underneath, covering the neck. Meanwhile, blue is used for the bottle stamp, upon which the standard “S IV” is placed, nodding to William Samuels Jr., the fourth-generation of distilling Samuelses and the long-time face of the company (he now serves as Chairman Emeritus).

Well, well, well

Maker’s Mark is no slouch, and even its entry-level hooch is far from your average well whiskey.

While this writer prefers the brand’s 46 Cask Strength, their Straight Bourbon is surprisingly pleasant for sipping (and mixing) thanks to its wheated mashbill, which gives it a slightly sweeter profile with vanilla notes, which you can experience at a solid 90 proof (45% ABV).

The liquid inside this limited-edition 250th Anniversary edition is the exact same as the distillery’s basic $30 bottle, and so the price hasn’t changed either. Maker’s has long been somewhat resistant to premium pricing, even with its more meticulously stave-finished bottlings.

Amber whiskey bottle with red wax seal and label reading "Cellar Aged Limited Edition 2025 Release. — Among Maker’s Mark’s most expensive offerings at $150, the 2025 Cellar Aged has whiskey up to 14 years of age.

In recent years, it has shifted that mentality a bit with its Cellar Aged expressions, retailing around $150 and featuring liquid that’s been aged up to 14 years. However, it says something about the brand’s commitment to giving its diehard fans a collector’s item without the upcharge.

Availability and pricing

Priced at the aforementioned $30, this Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon America’s 250th Anniversary bottling is limited to an unspecified edition size, which means it may or may not be available long after its June 1 launch date.

If you’re thinking of displaying this bottle at your upcoming Independence Day celebration, you might want to act fast.

A portion of all sales will go to the Farmer Veteran Coalition, which helps US veterans begin agricultural careers.

Update: An earlier version of this story misstated that this release was the first time Maker’s Mark used a tri-color wax, but the article has now been corrected for accuracy.

Bottle of Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky with red wax seal on the neck and blue stamp on the bottle.

Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon America’s 250th Anniversary

$30 at Maker's Mark

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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