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Maker's Mark vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Comparing Maker's Mark and Old Forester 86 Proof reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +4 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$20 – $26 ~$6 less |
- 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.
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).