First just an Ambassador, but now also a Father...

Well, it's official. I'm a father.

My Maker's Mark barrel has officially arrived at the warehouse. As the birth announcement stated, my "name has been etched into the chronicles of bourbon with the birth of (my) Maker's Mark barrel." My little baby was just a glimmer in the barrel builders eye 9 months ago, when she was built out of white oak planks. She was air-dried for a full nine months, including a full summer, until she was ready for some delicious Maker's Mark. She was then filled, and sent to the warehouse.

And now we play the waiting game. About 6-7 years from now, the Maker's Mark will have aged to perfection, and she'll be ready to enjoy. I'm sure the time will fly, and I'll look back on today like it was yesterday. They grow up so quickly.

In a few months, the plaque bearing my name will be affixed to the barrel, and when that happens, I'll be sure to post the pictures, so everyone can see my little barrel of joy.

In the meantime, here is a scan of the Birth Announcement.

I'm just bursting with joy. Bursting...

Here's the Background:
About a year and half ago, I became a Maker's Mark Ambassador. Truth be told, I'm not 100% sure where I signed up. I think it was in a bar. You can come home from a bar with different things, but few can say they came home with an Ambassadorship.

The program is clever. Basically, you are deemed an Ambassador, and the idea is that you'll help spread the word about Maker's Mark. The gifts and items they send Ambassadors is of surprisingly high quality. Around the holidays, I got custom Maker's Mark Christmas Cards to send out, with cards, envelopes, and custom-printed address labels. A few months before that, they sent me a set of nice Maker's Mark acrylic glasses, with plastic stirring sticks modeled after the Maker's Mark red wax seal. There have been a few other items sent during my tenure as Ambassador.

They also send emails frequently, updating Ambassadors about events and promotions that are going on. There is also a private login section on there website.

Overall, it's a fun and clever marketing program. The items they send are so unique, I'm always talking about them and showing them to people, who seem equally impressed. It seems a bit expensive on their end. I would be interested to find out what they think of the program, and what kind of ROI they have seen.

Anyway, next time we're out, we'll have cigars and Maker's Mark to celebrate the birth...