The News
On 2026-04-22, a company announced developments related to the Spirits industry.
When a brand unveils a new mash bill after seventy years, the trade sees it as a move toward niche prestige and sustainability storytelling.
Priced at $100 per bottle, Maker’s Mark's Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 sits between the average limited‑edition price of $92 and the premium wheat benchmark of $105. The press calls the release the first Estate Whiskey Alliance (EWA)-certified spirit. That claim lines up with public data: EWA launched in 2023 with 12 members and grew to 36 by early 2026, a three‑fold jump that reflects rapid industry interest. Maker’s own regenerative partnership adds another layer of exclusivity—only one distillery, Maker’s Mark, holds Regenified certification worldwide, while the program has certified fewer than 200 farms globally as of 2025.
Those figures paint an exclusive, high‑quality narrative that can be leveraged when positioning the whisky on premium bar menus and boutique retail spaces. They also suggest the product will likely remain out of mainstream shelves for the foreseeable future.
Wheat whiskey is a niche segment: less than 1 % of U.S. whiskey volume sales in 2025 were wheat‑based. The Star Hill Farm release therefore represents a high‑margin, low‑volume offering that aligns with bars’ growing clientele around craft and rare expressions.
Retailers can tap into the $500 million economic impact of Kentucky bourbon tourism in 2024 by positioning the whisky alongside distillery‑tour memorabilia and spotlighting its EWA certification on shelf tags.
Because Maker’s Mark is already expanding into Japan and duty‑free markets, distributors with a presence there should plan early imports to capture demand for premium, sustainably produced spirits. In the U.S., the 58.2 % ABV of the 2026 release means cocktails will need dilution or straight service to preserve flavor integrity; bars can use this as a conversation starter about “high‑proof wheat” and its unique mouthfeel.
The takeaway for operators is straightforward: treat Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 as a boutique, high‑margin SKU that thrives on storytelling rather than volume. Reserve inventory for craft‑conscious bars or specialty retailers, bundle it with other premium offerings to justify the higher price point, and use its EWA certification as a marketing hook both in‑store and at the bar.
With only 3 % of U.S. distilleries using 100 % estate‑grown grains, Maker’s Mark's 2026 release remains a rare find that will attract discerning consumers and niche bars alike.
Original Press Release
Brand’s first new mash bill expands to Japan and Duty Free following 2025 debut in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia
LORETTO, Ky., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Maker’s Mark® today announced the highly anticipated second release of Star Hill Farm Whisky, the brand’s first new mash bill and first wheat whisky in 70 years. Awarded World’s Best Wheat Whisky 2026, Star Hill Farm Whisky celebrates the role regenerative agriculture plays in creating healthier soil and better flavor. The annual release will be available in Japan and Duty Free this year, as well as in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
“My grandparents built Maker’s Mark on the belief that when we invest in the land, it gives back in flavor,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark. “Star Hill Farm Whisky extends that vision by embracing ingredients sourced from regenerative agriculture. As a proud B Corp and Regenified-certified distillery, we’re helping to define leadership in sustainability for the industry, while working to make Star Hill Farm the most endearing, culturally rich and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.”
While Maker’s Mark has always used the same mash bill to create a consistent and balanced bourbon, Star Hill Farm Whisky evolves each year, revealing how nature impacts flavor. The inaugural release spotlighted soft red winter wheat—the signature grain in Maker’s Mark’s mash bill. The 2026 release introduces hard red and hard white wheat types, demonstrating how grain diversity translates into greater depth of flavor through distillation, maturation and expert blending.
Star Hill Farm 2026 is crafted from two mash bills: one composed entirely of malted wheat, and another of 70% wheat and 30% malted barley. The final blend—27% wheat, 62% malted wheat and 11% malted barley—delivers a darker, more layered aromatic profile, with a rounder structure and amplified fruit notes compared to 2025.
“The first release of Star Hill Farm Whisky was bright, approachable and straightforward; this year we’ve dialed up the complexity,” said Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller at Maker’s Mark. “The 2026 release is a balanced blend of seven- and eight-year whiskies bottled at cask strength, evolving from first sip to finish. It opens with aromas of molasses, fig and delicate baking spices, followed by notes of zesty citrus, ripe pear and buttery shortbread, and lingers with a soft cinnamon finish.”
In 2025, Star Hill Farm Whisky became the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification—a designation Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 will carry from the Estate Whiskey Alliance® (EWA), established by the University of Kentucky to highlight local sourcing and sustainable production, and recognize whiskey produced entirely on the distillery estate, using grains grown on estate-owned or controlled land.*
Star Hill Farm Whisky expanded Maker’s Mark’s ambition to advance regenerative agriculture with last year’s launch of the Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance, whose mission is to foster healthier farm ecosystems through education and hands-on support—already helping convert 58,000 acres of conventional farmland to certified regenerative practices. Extending its impact to consumers, the Alliance invites farms, bars and restaurants to adopt regenerative sourcing and operations, and to bring the story to life through menu storytelling and consumer engagement, with more than 14 partners already signed on.
Bottled at 58.2% ABV (116.4 proof), Star Hill Farm Whisky 2026 will be available for a suggested retail price of $100 USD. In the United States, the limited release will be available at select retailers nationwide and at the Maker’s Mark Distillery, with a bookable experience that includes a guided tour of Star Hill Farm paired with cocktails highlighting flavor from nature.
EDITOR NOTE:
*In just one year, EWA has tripled its membership, certified its first products and funded groundbreaking research. “The Estate Whiskey Alliance and its certification underscore that provenance, traceability and locally sourced ingredients matter—both to the industry and consumers,” said Landon Borders, Director of the Estate Whiskey Alliance. “Maker’s Mark exemplifies what’s possible through its long-standing commitment to these principles, and we’re working together to inspire a similar approach across distilleries of all sizes and across the whiskey category.”
Sources consulted (web research):
- Makers Mark Star Hill Farm Whisky
- Review Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky 2025
- Star Hill Farm Whisky
- Makers Mark Launches Star Hill Farm Whisky
- Introducing Star Hill Farm Whisky Makers Mark Distillery
- Makers Mark Star Hill Farm Whisky Wheat Whiskey 1236454469
Source: BevNET