Compare
Four Roses Bourbon vs Maker’s Mark 46
Four Roses Bourbon and Maker’s Mark 46 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 ~$17 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).