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Maker's Mark vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond
On paper Maker's Mark and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond are near neighbours — both wheated bourbons — so proof (90 vs. 100) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$19 less | ~$45 – $50 |
- 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 Wheated Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 2/3 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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 Wheated Bottled-in-Bond: A gentle, bakery-like wheater from Bardstown's own stills. Fresh bread and cream on the nose turn into baked peach and vanilla, with a soft, creamy texture and only a light pepper bite.
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 Wheated Bottled-in-Bond if you want a soft, creamy, bakery-sweet wheater with bonded credentials with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond).