Founded in Kentucky in 1840, Maker's Mark is the oldest distillery today, operating on its original site and is a designated National Historic Landmark. In 1943, Bill Samuel bought an old distillery in the town of Loretto, Kentucky and began developing a recipe for a unique new bourbon. 8 years later, the recipe was ready. In the manufacture of whiskey, Bill Samuel did not use rye; he added corn and barley to rye. In search of the perfect ratio of grains, he baked bread, varying the ingredients, and the recipe for the most delicious bread was used to make Maker's Mark bourbon. Bill's wife, Marge Samuel, created the original bottle design that is still used today.