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Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select and Maker's Mark reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select | 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 | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select: Barrels pulled from the top of the rickhouse, where the temperature swings are hardest, and it shows as considerably more oak than any standard Jack. A genuinely different proposition from the black label.
- 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 Single Barrel Select if you want a distinctly oakier, more concentrated Tennessee whiskey with barrel-to-barrel character.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).