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Maker's Mark vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Put Maker's Mark next to Willett Pot Still Reserve and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve 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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).