Maker’s Mark Sent Its Bourbon on an Expedition Through the World of Wood

Maker’s Mark is taking its wood-finished bourbon in a new direction with Expedition 01, the first bottle in its new World Wood Collection. Announced on October 6, 2026, the release is exclusive to Global Travel Retail, so shoppers will find it first in select airport stores rather than standard liquor aisles.

What Expedition 01 Actually Is

Expedition 01 starts with Maker’s Mark wheated bourbon, then splits that liquid into separate batches for finishing with different oak staves. According to Maker’s Mark, those batches are individually finished with Japanese Mizunara, French oak, and American white oak before being blended back into one final whiskey.

That makes this the first Maker’s Mark whisky to feature three oak finishes across three continents. The company says the project was inspired by its blenders’ travels and their interest in how different whisky-making traditions use wood to shape flavor.

Maker’s Mark describes the Japanese Mizunara component as bringing delicate floral notes and subtle umami complexity. It says American white oak adds sweet vanilla notes, brightness, and a rounded character, while French oak contributes warm baking spice, caramel richness, and a lingering finish.

The official tasting notes lean in the same direction. On its product page, Maker’s Mark lists clove, seasoned oak, and delicate floral aromas, followed by sweet cinnamon, vanilla, and dried orchard fruit on the palate, with a long finish marked by baking spice and fruit.

Where It’s Being Sold and What It Costs

This is not a broad U.S. retail launch. Maker’s Mark said Expedition 01 became available beginning October 6, 2026 through Avolta retail outlets in five airports: New York’s JFK, London Heathrow, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, Perth, and Bengaluru.

The bottle format is also tailored to the travel market. Maker’s Mark says Expedition 01 is bottled in a 1 liter size at 47.5% ABV, or 95 proof, and comes in packaging inspired by the grain patterns of the three oak species used in the release.

The suggested retail price is $84.99, according to the company announcement. Gear Patrol separately reported the price at $85, which lines up with the company’s stated suggested retail figure and reinforces that this is positioned as a premium, limited edition travel buy.

For travelers, the practical takeaway is simple: this is an airport-store bottle, at least for now. If you are not passing through one of the listed hubs, Maker’s Mark has not said that Expedition 01 will be available through regular U.S. liquor retailers.

Why Wood Is the Story Behind This Release

Maker’s Mark has spent years making oak part of its identity, especially through releases that use stave finishing to shape flavor after the initial maturation. The company ties Expedition 01 directly to that approach, calling the World Wood Collection an extension of the wood-finishing philosophy it first showcased with Maker’s Mark 46.

In its announcement, managing director Rob Samuels said the brand sees bourbon as an agricultural product shaped by “water, wheat, oak and time.” That framing helps explain why the release is being marketed less as a novelty finish and more as a study in how different woods can change a familiar bourbon base.

That message also fits the company’s broader focus on oak stewardship. Maker’s Mark says it has invested in understanding and protecting American white oak at Star Hill Farm, while using this new collection to explore how exceptional oak from other parts of the world can broaden its flavor range.

For bourbon fans, Expedition 01 looks like a bottle aimed at collectors, airport shoppers, and anyone curious about how wood species affect taste. For home bartenders and gift buyers, the bigger point is that Maker’s Mark is turning oak itself into the headline ingredient, not just the barrel in the background.