Maker's Mark Goof Actually Great for Company

Remember how America's bourbon drinkers collectively freaked out in February over the news Maker's Mark was going to water down its alcohol? Big corporate misstep? Hardly, reports Forbes. The company did an about-face within a week in an attempt to prevent a mass exodus of fans, and it appears those fans went on a bourbon-hoarding bender during those scary few days. Maker's Mark sales exploded 44% in Q1, making it the bourbon's strongest quarter ever. Fans better hope the hoarding has stopped, however: "We won't expect to see those 44% growth rates sustained throughout the year, and in fact we can't support them," says its CEO, per the Wall Street Journal. (More Maker's Mark stories.)