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Jack Daniel’s 12 Year vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Put Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 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 | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $120 | ~$40 – $50 ~$55 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
spice 5/3 spice: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/9 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
- 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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).