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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Comparing Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength reveals a matchup between a modern, wheated craft expression and an uncut, wheated heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 106 proof (53% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$8 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
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Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
spice 3/3 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).