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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Old Forester 86 Proof and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$20 – $26 ~$22 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/7 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/9 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
spice 5/3 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).