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Four Roses Bourbon vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Comparing Four Roses Bourbon and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, wheated heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| 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) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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 Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/7 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
spice 5/3 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- 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 (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).