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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Evan Williams Black Label
Put Maker’s Mark Cask Strength next to Evan Williams Black Label and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Evan Williams Black Label |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 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) +24 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$14 – $18 ~$29 less |
- 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.
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Evan Williams Black Label
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/3 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10
spice 3/4 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label).