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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | 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 | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$38 – $45 ~$24 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/4 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
- 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).