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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Old Forester Statesman
Maker’s Mark 46 and Old Forester Statesman sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$11 less | ~$50 – $55 |
- 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.
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/7 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 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.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).