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Jack Daniel’s Bonded vs Maker's Mark
Put Jack Daniel’s Bonded 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 Bonded | 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 | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$30 – $38 | ~$25 – $32 ~$6 less |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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: 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 Bonded if you want the Tennessee charcoal-mellowed character with bonded proof and genuine structure.
- 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Jack Daniel’s Bonded); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).