Compare
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Put Maker’s Mark Cask Strength next to Jack Daniel’s 12 Year and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +3 proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$55 less | ~$80 – $120 |
| 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.
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year).