Compare
Maker's Mark vs Wild Turkey 81
Put Maker's Mark next to Wild Turkey 81 and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +9 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$20 – $25 ~$6 less |
- Wild Turkey 81 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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
spice 2/4 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).