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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Eagle Rare 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$24 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year 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.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
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 lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).