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Stagg vs Maker's Mark
Put Stagg next to Maker's Mark and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| 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) +40 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$25 – $32 ~$67 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker's Mark
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Flavor Profile
Stagg Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/3 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
spice 7/2 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 9/4 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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: 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 Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with significantly 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 at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).