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Buffalo Trace vs Maker’s Mark 46
Buffalo Trace and Maker’s Mark 46 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$10 less | ~$38 – $45 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).