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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch reveals a matchup between an uncut, wheated heavyweight and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ~$23 less | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. 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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).