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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Comparing Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof reveals a matchup between an uncut, wheated heavyweight and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$40 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
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Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/7 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
oak 5/9 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
sweetness 9/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
heat 7/9 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).