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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +31 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$29 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/9 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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 lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).