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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Blanton’s Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$74 less | ~$80 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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 and without hunting for it.
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).