Compare
Maker's Mark vs Michter's US*1 Small Batch
Put Maker's Mark next to Michter's US*1 Small Batch and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Michter's US*1 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Michter's US*1 Small Batch 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.
Michter's US*1 Small Batch
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Michter's US*1 Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/4 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 7 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Michter's US*1 Small Batch: Polished and easy-drinking, with butterscotch and stone fruit and very little rough edge. What you pay for is refinement and mouthfeel rather than age or proof.
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 Michter's US*1 Small Batch if you want a smooth, polished pour with a premium feel and no rough edges with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat, rocks (Michter's US*1 Small Batch).