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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$100 less | ~$110 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 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.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/4 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
spice 3/2 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 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.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond).