Compare
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Maker’s Mark 46
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Maker’s Mark 46 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$38 – $45 ~$51 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).