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Evan Williams Black Label vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Put Evan Williams Black Label next to Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$29 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/7 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
spice 4/3 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a lower price point.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).