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Maker's Mark vs Penelope Four Grain
Comparing Maker's Mark and Penelope Four Grain reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$7 less | ~$30 – $40 |
- Penelope Four Grain 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.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10
spice 2/3 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
oak 4/3 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).