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Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon vs Maker’s Mark 46
On paper Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon and Maker’s Mark 46 are near neighbours — both wheated bourbons — so price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$38 – $45) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
- 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 Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body.
- 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).