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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/6 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
sweetness 9/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 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.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).