Maker’s Mark Kentucky bourbon has unveiled the World Wood Collection, a new Global Travel Retail-exclusive series celebrating the influence of exceptional oak from around the world.
The inaugural release, Expedition 01, is the first Maker’s Mark whisky to feature three oak finishes across three continents: Japanese Mizunara, French and American white oak staves. It makes its debut this month in partnership with Avolta exclusively in five selected airports worldwide, ahead of its wider GTR roll-out next year.
The limited-edition expression will first be available in New York (JFK), London (LHR), Istanbul (SAW), Perth (PER), and Bengaluru (BLR) with a suggested retail price of $85.
The launch marks another key step in Maker’s Mark’s strategy to expand and elevate its presence in the high-potential ultra-premium whisky segment and builds on the success of the new Maker’s Mark Artist Series – City Edition introduced exclusively for GTR earlier this year.
“Expedition 01 represents the kind of premium, story-driven whisky experience that resonates with today’s global travelers,” said Vanessa Widmann, Managing Director, Global Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits. “With its exclusive availability in Global Travel Retail, distinctive oak-forward story and premium presentation, it offers travelers a rare opportunity to discover a truly unique expression from Maker’s Mark — one that celebrates craftsmanship, exploration and the influence of exceptional oak.”
Expedition 01 brings together Japanese Mizunara, French and American white oak, with each whisky individually finished before being blended into a single expression. The result is a complex, balanced whisky in which every oak contributes its own distinctive character.
- Japanese Mizunara oak contributes delicate floral notes and subtle umami complexity.
- American white oak delivers sweet vanilla notes, brightness and a rounded character.
- French oak introduces warm baking spice, caramel richness and an elegant, lingering finish.
The World Wood Collection represents the evolution of Maker’s Mark’s wood finishing philosophy, first introduced with Maker’s Mark 46, which demonstrated how oak staves could unlock new dimensions of flavor in bourbon while remaining true to the brand’s handmade heritage. Maker’s Mark has long treated oak as a key ingredient, and has invested in advancing both the art of wood finishing and the stewardship of American white oak at Star Hill Farm.
“At Maker’s Mark, we celebrate bourbon as an agricultural product and the universe of flavor that can be unlocked through nature—water, wheat, oak and time,” said Rob Samuels, Managing Director and eighth-generation whisky maker. “That belief has long guided our commitment to sustainable forestry and to protecting the future of American white oak. Through intentional wood finishing, The World Wood Collection explores exceptional oak from around the world to create a whisky that expands the boundaries of flavor while staying true to our craft.”
Initially available exclusively through Avolta Global Travel Retail doors ahead of Holiday 2026, Expedition 01 is bottled at 1L and 47.5% ABV. It is presented in premium packaging inspired by the distinctive grain of each oak species. The launch will be supported by a dedicated in-store activation program designed to bring the Maker’s Mark’s premium innovation story to life for traveling consumers.
