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Maker's Mark vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Comparing Maker's Mark and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat is a closer contest than it looks — both are wheated bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 106).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 106 proof (53% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 less | ~$50 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/8 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10
spice 2/3 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a lower price point.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat).