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Stagg vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Comparing Stagg and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and an uncut, wheated heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 130 proof (65% ABV) +20 proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$40 – $50 ~$50 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Stagg 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
Stagg
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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
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Flavor Profile
Stagg Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/3 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
heat 10/7 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Stagg: Uncut and unfiltered Buffalo Trace at a proof that demands respect. Dark chocolate, espresso and charred oak arrive with genuine heat, and a few drops of water unlock a surprising amount of fruit.
- 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 Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).