A spirit of sustainability

Maker’s Mark makes bourbon that’s easy on the palate—and the planet

Rob Samuels, managing director of Maker’s Mark—the company that makes the popular bourbon with the distinctive red wax-dipped bottles—is a firm believer in sustainable farming practices. Because, it turns out, what’s good for the planet is also good for delivering flavor. And that holds true for the wheat, corn, and barley that arrive at the Maker’s Mark distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, sourced from a collection of local farmer partners. “The bourbon in your glass is agricultural,” Samuels says.