Compare
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between an uncut, wheated heavyweight and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/9 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 9/4 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).