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Jack Daniel’s Bonded vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Comparing Jack Daniel’s Bonded and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and an uncut, wheated heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s Bonded | 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 | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$30 – $38 ~$11 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
spice 4/3 spice: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Jack Daniel’s Bonded: Bonded Jack at 100 proof, and far more serious than the black label most people picture. The charcoal mellowing still rounds everything off, but there is real bourbon structure underneath.
- 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 Bonded if you want the Tennessee charcoal-mellowed character with bonded proof and genuine structure at a slightly lower price point.
- 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 neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Jack Daniel’s Bonded); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).