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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Wild Turkey 101
Put Maker’s Mark 46 next to Wild Turkey 101 and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$25 – $30 ~$14 less |
- 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).