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E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch vs Maker's Mark
Put E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch next to Maker's Mark and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $90 | ~$25 – $32 ~$39 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 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
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
- 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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
- 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 significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).