Evolution of an idea, a whisky and a guitar...
The is
a letter Dave sent to Bill Samuels- owner of Maker's Mark Whiskey. It tells the story of his love for
Maker's Mark bourbon and his inspiration for this guitar. Enjoy
the story...
I cannot tell you in words what a great product I think Maker's Mark is. My respect and infatuation began back in 1993 when my best friend (our band's drummer) and I traveled by motorcycle from Ohio to Kentucky and on to Tennessee. This was our distillery tour and I had always been a Jim Beam man, never really liking the medicinal taste of that Tennessee whisky. So we came to Bardstown and toured Jim Beam. We saw the huge, stainless steel vats, the
computerized processing and the impersonal feel of the
operation and while the scale was impressive, the heart was not.
Looking for other escapes while in the area, we came across your
distillery and took the bikes to Loretto where my outlook changed for
life. The warm reception, the quaint feel and the overall
character of your place made me feel right at home. We toured
your facility even though you were shut down for your annual vacation
time in August. We saw the cypress vats being cleaned and repaired by
the staff, we were encouraged to play in the wax and dip a few bottles,
we even got to talk to any of the staff we came across. Your
attention to detail, family philosophy and hand craftsmanship urged me
to buy a bottle as soon as we returned to Bardstown. So we did
and we never looked back. I became an avid Maker's Mark customer.
Two years ago, I brought my wife down there for a return visit and arrived during normal operations. Again, we got the full tour, played in the grain, the mash and dipped our own bottles to take home. We then learned about the Ambassador program, which we both joined. Soon after that time, around December of 2003, I got the idea of building my own bass guitar. I play bass in an Ohio classic rock and blues band. After starting the project and shaping the wood, I looked at the burned out section I just cut and saw a shade very similar to your bourbon. Then the idea struck! I decided to make a Maker's Mark theme Guitar. I wrote you, asking for labels, then wrote again with the same request as I misplaced my originals. You sent me a whole envelope full. The band was amazed I could get them at all. I said, "That's Maker's Mark for you. Always willing to go the extra mile for their customers."
Here now it is
almost a year later and the guitar is
finally finished. I had a local car paint shop match the paint
from a slice of wax from a fifth bottle and my wife and I blended and
matched the stain on the guitar to the bourbon in the bottle we hand
dipped ourselves in 2003 (saving for a special occasion).
The drips are replicated from a bottle that was purchased in on our
2003 trip. The label and label pieces I placed on the
guitar are under the clear coat and should last for many
years. I am very happy with the final product and now wanted to
let you know it is finished with my thanks for your assistance on the
labels.
This guitar is my contribution, as an Ambassador, to the promotion of Maker's Mark. I figure, with our band playing in bars every Saturday night, what better place to spread the word. As soon as I get a few weeks practice on it to get used to it, I will be using it as my usual guitar for playing gigs, replacing my 14 year old G&L bass.
I cannot tell you in words what a great product I think Maker's Mark is. My respect and infatuation began back in 1993 when my best friend (our band's drummer) and I traveled by motorcycle from Ohio to Kentucky and on to Tennessee. This was our distillery tour and I had always been a Jim Beam man, never really liking the medicinal taste of that Tennessee whisky. So we came to Bardstown and toured Jim Beam. We saw the huge, stainless steel vats, the
computerized processing and the impersonal feel of the
operation and while the scale was impressive, the heart was not.
Looking for other escapes while in the area, we came across your
distillery and took the bikes to Loretto where my outlook changed for
life. The warm reception, the quaint feel and the overall
character of your place made me feel right at home. We toured
your facility even though you were shut down for your annual vacation
time in August. We saw the cypress vats being cleaned and repaired by
the staff, we were encouraged to play in the wax and dip a few bottles,
we even got to talk to any of the staff we came across. Your
attention to detail, family philosophy and hand craftsmanship urged me
to buy a bottle as soon as we returned to Bardstown. So we did
and we never looked back. I became an avid Maker's Mark customer.Two years ago, I brought my wife down there for a return visit and arrived during normal operations. Again, we got the full tour, played in the grain, the mash and dipped our own bottles to take home. We then learned about the Ambassador program, which we both joined. Soon after that time, around December of 2003, I got the idea of building my own bass guitar. I play bass in an Ohio classic rock and blues band. After starting the project and shaping the wood, I looked at the burned out section I just cut and saw a shade very similar to your bourbon. Then the idea struck! I decided to make a Maker's Mark theme Guitar. I wrote you, asking for labels, then wrote again with the same request as I misplaced my originals. You sent me a whole envelope full. The band was amazed I could get them at all. I said, "That's Maker's Mark for you. Always willing to go the extra mile for their customers."
Here now it is
almost a year later and the guitar is
finally finished. I had a local car paint shop match the paint
from a slice of wax from a fifth bottle and my wife and I blended and
matched the stain on the guitar to the bourbon in the bottle we hand
dipped ourselves in 2003 (saving for a special occasion).
The drips are replicated from a bottle that was purchased in on our
2003 trip. The label and label pieces I placed on the
guitar are under the clear coat and should last for many
years. I am very happy with the final product and now wanted to
let you know it is finished with my thanks for your assistance on the
labels.This guitar is my contribution, as an Ambassador, to the promotion of Maker's Mark. I figure, with our band playing in bars every Saturday night, what better place to spread the word. As soon as I get a few weeks practice on it to get used to it, I will be using it as my usual guitar for playing gigs, replacing my 14 year old G&L bass.