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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$29 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/9 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
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 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).