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Jack Daniel’s 12 Year vs Maker's Mark
Put Jack Daniel’s 12 Year next to Maker's Mark and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Wheated Bourbon |
| 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) +17 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $120 | ~$25 – $32 ~$72 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
spice 5/2 spice: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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: 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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak with more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).