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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Maker’s Mark 46 and Horse Soldier Barrel Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$40 less | ~$78 – $85 |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 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.
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/7 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
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.
- Go with Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength).