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Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Put Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B next to Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$170 – $900 | ~$40 – $50 ~$490 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 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
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/7 heat: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/9 sweetness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
spice 3/3 spice: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
- 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 Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
- 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 (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).