Maker’s Mark Expedition 01: The First Mizunara Oak Bourbon in Maker’s Mark History

Maker’s Mark Expedition 01: The First Mizunara Oak Bourbon in Maker’s Mark History

Maker’s Mark is taking its wood-finishing program somewhere it has never gone before.

The Kentucky distillery has announced Maker’s Mark Expedition 01, the inaugural release in its new World Wood Collection, a series designed to explore how oak from different parts of the world can influence the familiar Maker’s Mark flavor profile.

Most importantly, Expedition 01 marks the first Maker’s Mark whisky finished with Japanese Mizunara oak staves.

But Mizunara is only one part of the story.

Expedition 01 combines whiskies individually finished with Japanese Mizunara oak, French oak, and American white oak, bringing together three different wood influences in one bottle.

For a distillery that has spent years exploring the impact of wood finishing on bourbon, Expedition 01 feels like a natural evolution.

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What Is Maker’s Mark Expedition 01?

Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 is the first release in the new World Wood Collection, a series centered around exploring unique oak types from around the world.

Instead of exposing one batch of whisky to all three woods at the same time, Maker’s Mark finishes separate portions of whisky with each type of oak and then blends those components together.

The three woods used in Expedition 01 are:

• Japanese Mizunara oak
• French oak
• American white oak

The final blend is reported to contain approximately:

• 55% American white oak-finished whisky
• 40% French oak-finished whisky
• 5% Mizunara-finished whisky

The finishing process lasts approximately nine weeks before the components are blended together.

That relatively small Mizunara component is interesting because it suggests Maker’s Mark is using the Japanese oak as an accent rather than allowing its influence to completely dominate the bourbon.

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Why Mizunara Oak Is Such a Big Deal

Mizunara oak has developed a strong reputation among whiskey drinkers because of the distinctive flavors it can contribute.

Originally associated most closely with Japanese whisky, Mizunara can bring aromatic, spicy, floral, incense-like, and sandalwood characteristics depending on how it is used.

It is also notoriously difficult to work with.

The trees grow slowly, the wood can be difficult to shape into barrels, and Mizunara oak has a reputation for being more prone to leaking than traditional American white oak.

That combination of rarity, difficulty, and unique flavor has made Mizunara one of the most talked-about woods in modern whiskey finishing.

For Maker’s Mark, Expedition 01 represents the first time Mizunara has become part of the brand’s wood-finishing program.

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Maker’s Mark Has Been Experimenting With Wood for Years

While Mizunara is new territory, experimenting with oak is nothing new for Maker’s Mark.

Maker’s Mark 46 helped establish the distillery’s modern wood-finishing approach by inserting specially treated French oak staves into barrels of mature Maker’s Mark.

That philosophy eventually expanded into releases like the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series and the distillery’s Private Selection program.

Instead of changing the traditional Maker’s Mark mash bill, these programs use different woods, toast levels, and finishing techniques to create new flavor profiles.

The World Wood Collection appears to take that idea even further by looking beyond traditional American and French oak.

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What Does Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 Taste Like?

According to Maker’s Mark, each type of oak was selected to contribute something different to the final whisky.

The Japanese Mizunara oak is intended to bring delicate floral notes and subtle savory complexity.

The American white oak contributes vanilla, sweetness, and brightness.

The French oak adds baking spice, caramel richness, and additional length to the finish.

Those are the flavor characteristics described by Maker’s Mark.

Until we taste Expedition 01 ourselves, we are not going to pretend we know exactly how those flavors translate in the glass.

That tasting will ultimately determine whether the three-oak concept works as well in practice as it sounds on paper.

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Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 Proof, Price, and Bottle Size

Here are the important details:

• Proof: 95 proof
• ABV: 47.5%
• Bottle Size: 1 liter
• Suggested Retail Price: $84.99
• Series: Maker’s Mark World Wood Collection
• Release: Expedition 01
• Launch Date: October 6, 2026
• Availability: Global Travel Retail exclusive

The combination of a 1-liter bottle and an $84.99 suggested price makes Expedition 01 especially interesting.

Limited releases involving Mizunara oak can often carry significantly higher price tags, so Maker’s Mark appears to be positioning Expedition 01 at a relatively approachable price.

Finding one may be the harder part.

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Where Can You Buy Maker’s Mark Expedition 01?

Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 is launching as a Global Travel Retail exclusive.

That means you should not expect to walk into the average American liquor store and find it sitting on the shelf.

The initial launch includes select airport retailers at:

• New York John F. Kennedy International Airport
• London Heathrow Airport
• Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
• Perth Airport
• Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport

A broader Global Travel Retail rollout is expected to follow in February 2027.

For bourbon drinkers in the United States, JFK may be one of the easiest early opportunities to find a bottle.

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What Is the Maker’s Mark World Wood Collection?

The bigger story behind Expedition 01 may be the creation of the World Wood Collection itself.

The collection gives Maker’s Mark a new platform for experimenting with oak species and wood-finishing techniques from around the world.

And the name Expedition 01 strongly suggests this is only the beginning.

Future releases could potentially explore different:

• Oak species
• Countries of origin
• Toasting techniques
• Charring methods
• Stave combinations
• Finishing times

Maker’s Mark has already proven that wood finishing can create dramatically different versions of its traditional wheated bourbon.

The World Wood Collection gives the distillery even more room to experiment.

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How Expedition 01 Compares to Other Maker’s Mark Releases

Maker’s Mark has created several different ways for bourbon drinkers to experience variations of its traditional flavor profile.

The core Maker’s Mark expression provides the baseline.

Maker’s Mark 46 introduces additional French oak influence.

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength offers the traditional profile at a higher proof.

The Wood Finishing Series pushes further into experimental finishing profiles.

Private Selection allows individual groups and retailers to create custom stave combinations.

Now the World Wood Collection adds another direction by introducing oak sourced from different regions around the world.

Expedition 01 is not simply another proof variation. It introduces an entirely new wood component to Maker’s Mark.

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Is Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 Worth Hunting?

On paper, there is a lot to like.

You have:

• Maker’s Mark’s classic wheated bourbon foundation
• Three different oak influences
• The brand’s first use of Japanese Mizunara
• A solid 95 proof
• A 1-liter bottle
• An $84.99 suggested price
• The first release in an entirely new Maker’s Mark collection

The biggest drawback is availability.

Travel Retail exclusives naturally make bottles harder to obtain for anyone who is not already passing through one of the participating airports.

Whether Expedition 01 is worth making a special trip for will ultimately depend on how good the whisky actually tastes.

Until we get one into a glass, the quality of the final product remains the biggest unanswered question.

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Why Expedition 01 Matters

Maker’s Mark is one of the most recognizable bourbon brands in the world, and major changes to its production philosophy tend to get attention.

Expedition 01 matters because this is not simply a new label or another limited-proof variation.

It represents a new direction in the distillery’s long-running exploration of oak.

Introducing Mizunara also connects American bourbon production with a wood traditionally associated with Japanese whisky.

If the World Wood Collection continues beyond Expedition 01, Maker’s Mark could have a very interesting platform for experimenting with wood for years to come.

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Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 FAQ

What is Maker’s Mark Expedition 01?

Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 is the first release in the new World Wood Collection. It combines whisky individually finished with Japanese Mizunara oak, French oak, and American white oak.

Is Expedition 01 the first Mizunara Maker’s Mark?

Yes. Expedition 01 is the first Maker’s Mark whisky finished with Japanese Mizunara oak staves.

What proof is Maker’s Mark Expedition 01?

Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 is bottled at 95 proof, or 47.5% ABV.

How much does Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 cost?

The suggested retail price is $84.99 for a 1-liter bottle.

Where can I buy Maker’s Mark Expedition 01?

The initial release is exclusive to Global Travel Retail, beginning at select airports including New York JFK and London Heathrow.

Will Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 be available in regular liquor stores?

Maker’s Mark has announced Expedition 01 as a Global Travel Retail exclusive. A traditional nationwide U.S. liquor store release has not been announced.

What kind of oak is used in Expedition 01?

Expedition 01 uses three types of oak: Japanese Mizunara oak, French oak, and American white oak.

Is Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 a limited edition?

Expedition 01 is a special Global Travel Retail release and the first entry in Maker’s Mark’s World Wood Collection.

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Final Thoughts

Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 is one of the more interesting new directions we have seen from the distillery’s wood-finishing program.

Mizunara immediately gets attention, but the real story may be the combination of Japanese, French, and American oak working together around the familiar Maker’s Mark wheated bourbon profile.

The World Wood Collection also opens the door to plenty of future experimentation.

For now, there is one question that matters most.

How does Expedition 01 actually taste?

That is something we will have to answer once we can get a bottle in the glass.

Until then, Maker’s Mark Expedition 01 is absolutely a release worth keeping an eye on.

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