Compare
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon and Maker's Mark is a closer contest than it looks — both are wheated bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$40 – $45 vs. ~$25 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $45 | ~$25 – $32 ~$14 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
spice 2/2 spice: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 proof.
- 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 Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).