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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Put Maker’s Mark Cask Strength next to Willett Pot Still Reserve and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +16 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$8 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve 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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/4 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 9/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).