The French oak staves used in the creation of this bourbon have an immediate and large impact on the sip. It starts in the nose with a scent of French oak being present that carries through to the finish. While FAE-01 captured the attention of many last year, FAE-02 doesn’t quite live up to it in the same way. The overall sip is intriguing, however slightly off balance, with sharp spices sparring against oak, leather, and dry earthy flavors. This combination of flavors is immediately noticeable and ultimately holds FAE-02’s potential back. That said, I applaud Maker’s for continuing to march into new territory with their Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, as it brings a fun aspect into showcasing what Maker’s Mark is capable of with just a tweak to a core component of their bourbon.