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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Maker's Mark
Put Old Grand-Dad Bonded next to Maker's Mark and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 | ~$25 – $32 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).