MAKER'S MARK BOURBON stuff, group 2

These are my pair of (1L size) personalized Maker's Mark "Ambassador" bottles. Sometime thereabouts 2002 or so I think, Maker's offered a promotion to their Ambassadors whereby one could sign up to have their name (with half a dozen or so other Ambassadors) engraved on a plaque which would be affixed to a freshly made barrel of Maker's, right before it went off to be stacked in the warehouse for 7yrs, (isn't it?) to mature. [that aging process being a mandated part of the technical definition of any "bourbon whisky", by federal law etc.] Then, one would get the opportunity to (visit the distillery and) actually *OWN* a couple bottles-worth from that same exact barrel. [there was also an opportunity to buy the plaque itself IIRC, but I couldn't manage that at the time...]

So I did, and THESE are THOSE bottles. ;-) :-) :-)

One is pictured here still in its original gift bag, the other showing the custom printed label (including my name) and coppertone metal hangtag (w/my Ambassador#) which adorns each one. Additionally, the tops of the trademark red wax seals over the bottle tops are impressed with a "2009" date stamp, which is not normally added to any 'regular production' stock.

Shown with the pair of bottles is the "CONGRATULATIONS -- ITS A BOURBON!" birth-announcement w/ticket stub which was mailed to me once my personal barrel had fully matured and was ready to 'face the world'. ;-) :-) Also a small (pewter?) medallion on a ribbon (which I think was a 'welcome gift' for actually showing up?) and my Maker's bar-rail mat (purchased in the gift store at the same time, because I wanted it too...) plus an accidental 2009 "Kentucky Bourbon Festival" tourist brochure. (from the rack at whatever hotel I slept at while passing thru, alas I was there a few months too early to actually attend the festival...)

So once more -- CHEERS, Y'ALL! ;-) :-) :-)