Compare
Old Forester Statesman vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Old Forester Statesman and Maker's Mark reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
fruit 7/4 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).