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Evan Williams Black Label vs Maker's Mark
Put Evan Williams Black Label next to Maker's Mark and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| 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) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$13 less | ~$25 – $32 |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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: 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 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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).