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Maker’s Mark 46 vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/9 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 8/4 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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.
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).