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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Stagg
Comparing Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Stagg reveals a matchup between an uncut, wheated heavyweight and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Stagg |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 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) | 130 proof (65% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$50 less | ~$70 – $120 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Stagg does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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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Stagg
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Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Stagg
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/7 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Stagg 7 out of 10
oak 5/9 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Stagg 9 out of 10
heat 7/10 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Stagg 10 out of 10
sweetness 9/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Stagg 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Stagg 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Stagg 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Stagg: Uncut and unfiltered Buffalo Trace at a proof that demands respect. Dark chocolate, espresso and charred oak arrive with genuine heat, and a few drops of water unlock a surprising amount of fruit.
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 Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat (Stagg).