by Paul Gingrich

I have been a Maker’s Mark Ambassador going back to before I got into this wonderful life I live.  For those unfamiliar with what a Maker’s Mark Ambassador is, I will explain.  Maker’s Mark has a group of core enthusiasts that love Bourbon and more to the point love Maker’s Mark.  They have an online program that you join, for free, to become an ambassador for the brand.  You swear your undying love for the brand (not a hard thing to do if you love Bourbon) and you are not only assigned a member number, but your name, along with a few others, is put on a plate and attached to a barrel at the distillery in Loretto Kentucky.  When your barrel comes mature and ready for bottling, you and the other Ambassadors that have been assigned to that barrel are invited to come down and not only purchase a bottle or two from your barrel, but actually do the red wax-hand dip of the bottles that is the signature of Maker’s Mark. You also get notified, via email, of events that are geared to Ambassadors only.  The most famous of these events is the Maker’s Mark Ambassador’s weekend.  This year it took 

place on Friday and Saturday, April 9th and 10th.  The event starts in Lexington, Kentucky at Keeneland Race Track for a day of horse racing highlighted by the Maker’s Mark Mile.  There is a table for Ambassadors attending to check in and get their commemorative hat and pin, only available to those who come to the track that day.  It is a full day of racing with instant camaraderie in the stands among all who are sporting the Maker’s Mark Brand.   There are always Maker’s Mark signature cocktails for sale and lots of food to keep you from being overwhelmed by the Bourbon.  After the day of racing ends, there is always a big theme event held in a huge tent in downtown Lexington.  Last year it was a “Speakeasy” theme.  This year it was a full blown Toga Party.  Wearing a Toga is not mandatory, but you miss out on the fun if you don’t participate.  There were roughly two thousand party goers in attendance and two-thirds were in the spirit.  Bill Samuels, Whose family started Maker’s Mark many years ago, may need to send an apology to the downtown Lexington hotels for the use of most of the bed sheets for that event.  They have a wonderful band playing songs from the “Animal House” era and sometime during the night the signature song “You make me want to shout” is played for the animated crowd.  The food and the Bourbon flow freely and we are glad that the tent is only a short walk from our hotel.  After a great night’s sleep, made easy by our full day and night of activities, we awake ready for part two of our weekend.  Today everyone is encouraged to come out for a day at the distillery. It is not an easy place to find, but once you get in the area of Loretto, everyone knows where it is and signs eventually point us to our destination.  There is a big Bar-B-Que lunch awaiting us under a tent at the entrance with a Bluegrass Band entertaining the guests.  Bill Samuels is holding court in one corner of the tent signing hats, bottles, t-shirts and countless other paraphernalia brought in by the loyal.  He is signing stuff when we arrive and is still at his post when we leave.  Well Bill, I’m sure you slept well that night.  We tour the beautiful facility that is truly in a park-like setting.  There is Bourbon to sample, and you can purchase special Ambassador weekend commemorative bottles and even hand dip your bottle if the spirit moves you (sorry for the pun, couldn’t resist).  Everyone has tasting tickets to control the amount of sampling you can do, there is a barrel making demonstration, and a map hangs at the check in table for everyone to mark where they have traveled from. Looking over the map, people have traveled from all points of the states, including Hawaii, and some as far away as Europe are in attendance. All to soon it is time to make our way back to Lexington for a wonderful dinner in this picturesque city.  If you are a fan of Bourbon and have been looking for a way to really experience Bourbon Country, Take the plunge and become an ambassador.  See you at next year’s party!