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Rowan's Creek vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Rowan's Creek and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Rowan's Creek | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$38 – $45 |
- Rowan's Creek does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Rowan's Creek Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/4 spice: Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).