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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$60 less | ~$70 – $140 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).