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Jim Beam Black vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Jim Beam Black and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jim Beam Black | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- Jim Beam Black does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jim Beam Black Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/7 heat: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
nuttiness 6/3 nuttiness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
spice 4/3 spice: Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
- 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 Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
- 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, cocktails (Jim Beam Black); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).