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Bulleit Bourbon vs Maker's Mark
Put Bulleit Bourbon next to Maker's Mark and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$25 – $32 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere.
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).