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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat and Maker's Mark is a closer contest than it looks — both are wheated bourbons, separated mainly by proof (106 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| 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) +16 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
spice 3/2 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).