Compare
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Put Maker’s Mark Cask Strength next to Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +20 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$490 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/3 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
spice 3/3 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
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 Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).