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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs 1792 Small Batch
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and 1792 Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | 1792 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +16 proof | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$26 – $34 ~$15 less |
- 1792 Small Batch 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 Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
1792 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 1792 Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/7 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
- 1792 Small Batch: Barton's flagship and one of the most under-discussed bottles at its price. A high-rye character with cocoa and orange peel, and considerably more going on than the shelf position suggests.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
- Go with 1792 Small Batch if you want an overlooked, spice-forward Kentucky bourbon that punches above its price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (1792 Small Batch).