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Four Roses Bourbon vs Maker's Mark
Put Four Roses Bourbon next to Maker's Mark and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 | ~$25 – $32 |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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: 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).