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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Put Maker’s Mark 46 next to Jack Daniel’s 12 Year and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$59 less | ~$80 – $120 |
| 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.
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year).