Compare
Maker's Mark vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Comparing Maker's Mark and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$77 less | ~$70 – $140 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 2/5 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).