I’d like to thank Maker’s Mark for providing the sample kit for the new stave with no strings attached.
So, Maker’s Mark has decided to tweak the Private Select program. They’ve decided to retire the Roasted French Mocha stave and replace it with a new one called Roasted French Mendiant.
When the Maker's Mark Private Select program was first introduced, I wrote a whole article about it. From that post, we know that the Roasted French Mocha is a French oak stave designed to bring dry, dark chocolate, coffee, and char notes to the finished bourbon.
So, you might ask, the names of Roasted French Mocha and Roasted French Mendiant are remarkably similar? What is the difference? That’s a fine question and Maker’s Mark was kind enough to provide the answer along with the samples they sent. Quoting from the press release:
The new stave takes the flavor cues folks have come to know and love from the program’s Mocha stave and expands on them with amplified milk chocolate, buttery nut, deep coffee and dried dark fruit notes. … In introducing Mendiant, we wanted to bring in a new and exciting stave that takes flavor cues from Mocha but enhances even more rich and creamy classic Maker’s Mark® notes. Mendiant, like Mocha, is also a French oak stave with a classic cut but is cooked low and slow vs. high and slow to achieve a delicious new finish.
I was very interested to taste the difference between these two. I haven’t liked every Private Selection I’ve had that included the French Mocha stave, but all of the ones I’ve liked have included it. And I’d never tasted it on its own. So this should be a fun look.
Maker's Mark French Mocha vs French Mendiant
Purchase Info: These are available as part of the Maker’s Mark Private Select Program. They are only available on their own if a participant in the program has elected to go that route with their selection. These samples were sent for review purposes. The suggested retail price for a bottle of Maker’s Mark Private Select is $69.99
Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.67
Mocha
Details: 54.95% ABV
Nose: Strong caramel, vanilla, oak, and chocolate.
Mouth: Caramel, vanilla, oak, chocolate, and a hint of mint.
Finish: Sweet and warm with lingering notes of chocolate, cinnamon, and caramel.
Mendiant
Details: 54.75% ABV
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, chamomile, and hints of oak and mint.
Mouth: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, almond, and herbal notes.
Finish: Sweet and warm. Lingering notes of caramel, vanilla, almond, and hints of chamomile.
Thoughts: These are both very good. I'd choose the Mocha personally as I love those chocolate notes. The Mendiant is much spicier while the Mocha is sweeter...
…when neat.
Since Maker's was nice enough to throw a vial of Maker's Cask strength in the package, let's see how each of these does in a 50-50 blend.
The blending definitely changes things up. The noses are very similar with the Mendiant being slightly more herbal. Both, however, are caramel bombs. On the mouth, the Mendiant seems to integrate better than the Mocha. The Mocha stays chocolaty and overpowers the notes from the Maker's Cask Strength. The Mendiant shows as sweeter and has more caramel and herbal notes than the Mocha. Strangely, my favorite has switched when blended with the Maker's Cask Strength. I much prefer the Mendiant in a blend.
Which might be why they are making the change.
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