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Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon vs Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

Buy Buffalo Trace for an easy-drinking everyday bourbon that suits a crowd and needs no water. Buy Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength if you want a bolder, hotter pour with a French oak finish and don't mind adding a splash of water. Buffalo Trace is the safer, more balanced bottle; Maker's 46 Cask Strength is the richer, more intense one. Owners consistently call Buffalo Trace smooth and well-balanced, while the cask strength Maker's rewards drinkers who like high proof and oak.

  • Choose the Buffalo Trace if you want a smooth, balanced 90-proof bourbon for sipping neat or mixing without fuss.
  • Choose the Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength if you want a high-proof, oak-forward bourbon with real intensity and don't mind proofing it down.

Prices

  • Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon: $24.99 at InternetWines.com (last seen Nov 5)
  • Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength: $28.00 at Le Maschere Gioielli (checked today)
  • Difference: the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon is $3.01 cheaper than the Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength at the latest prices (Nov 5 and Nov 10)
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

4.8(83 ratings)
$24.99at InternetWines.comChecked Nov 5
See all prices and details
Visit InternetWines.com
Pros
  • Smooth and easy to drink with little alcohol bite
  • Well-balanced caramel, toffee and oak notes
  • Labeled 9 year age statement
  • Good for gatherings and beginners
Cons
  • Can be hard to find in some states
  • Lower proof limits intensity for experienced drinkers
  • Occasional reports of bottles arriving broken in shipping
Maker's Mark
Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

4.8(6 ratings)
$28.00at Le Maschere GioielliChecked 2 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Le Maschere Gioielli
Pros
  • High proof delivers bold, concentrated flavor
  • French oak stave finish adds depth and length
  • Wheated mashbill keeps the grain spice soft
  • Widely available
Cons
  • High proof is harsh neat for some drinkers
  • No age statement
  • Oak-forward profile may overwhelm casual sippers

What separates them

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight BourbonMaker's Mark 46 Cask Strength
Proof90 proof (45% ABV), easy to sip neat107–114 proof (about 54.5% ABV), hot and punchy
MashbillKentucky straight bourbon with rye in the grain bill, giving baking spiceWheated: 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley, softer grain spice
FinishingAged in new charred oak onlyFinished with seared French oak staves for extra oak and depth
Flavor profileCaramel, brown sugar, toffee, oak, cinnamon and peppermint; medium finishBold, full-bodied, oak-driven with dark fruit and caramel; long finish
Drinkability neatSmooth with minimal alcohol bite; good for beginnersNeeds a splash of water or ice to tame the proof
Age statementLabeled 9 yearNo age statement
AvailabilityPopular and often allocated; can be hard to find in some statesWidely stocked in most markets
Best useNeat, on the rocks, or in cocktailsSlow sipping and bold whiskey-forward cocktails

Price history

$28.00$24.97
Nov 5Nov 10
  • Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon: lowest $24.97 on Nov 5.
  • Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength: lowest $28.00 on Nov 9 at Le Maschere Gioielli; $28.00 on Nov 10.

Prices at every store

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon

  • InternetWines.comNew

    Availability unknown

    $24.99Checked Nov 5
    Visit InternetWines.com
  • BottleBargainsNew

    Availability unknown

    $34.99Checked Nov 5
    Visit BottleBargains
  • pjwine.comNew

    Availability unknown

    $35.99Checked Nov 5
    Visit pjwine.com
  • WalmartNew

    Out of stockSold by Cooper Beverage MarltonReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $24.97Checked Nov 9
    Visit Walmart
All 4 stores and price history →

Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

  • Le Maschere GioielliNew

    In stock

    $28.00Checked 2 h ago
    Visit Le Maschere Gioielli
  • nobelwine&spiritsNew

    In stock

    $73.00Checked 2 h ago
    Visit nobelwine&spirits
All 2 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecBuffalo Trace Kentucky Straight BourbonMaker's Mark 46 Cask Strength
Size750 ml750 mL
Age9 YearNAS
BrandBuffalo Trace—
Alcohol classes & typesAmerican Whiskey—
FlavorStraight Whiskey—
Alcohol content by volume45 %—
Alcohol proof90—
Container typeBottle—
Flavor notesRounded bourbon character with caramel, oak, an…—
MaterialGlass—
Net content statement750 mlt—
Product net content parent750 Milliliter—
Show all 22 specsShow fewer specs
SpecBuffalo Trace Kentucky Straight BourbonMaker's Mark 46 Cask Strength
Product net content uomMilliliter—
Pack quantity1—
Food conditionShelf-Stable—
OccasionChristmas—
ThemeMulti-Theme—
Proof—107–114
Pack Size—6
Alcohol by Volume—54.5%
Classification—Straight Bourbon
Mashbill—

What reviewers say

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon

  • 4.8 / 583 ratings

Reviewers call Buffalo Trace a smooth, easy-drinking, well-balanced bourbon and a solid entry-level pick. Praise centers on its sweet caramel and oak flavor and its popularity at gatherings.

What people mention
  • SmoothnessPraisedDrinkers describe it as smooth and easy to drink with little alcohol bite.
  • Flavor balancePraisedSweet brown sugar, caramel, toffee and oak come through in a balanced way.
  • FinishPraisedThe finish is medium length with cinnamon and peppermint spice.
  • AvailabilityCriticisedSome shoppers say it is hard to find in certain states.

Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength

Drinkers who seek it out tend to rate it above the standard Maker's 46 for depth and intensity, praising the caramel, vanilla and oak from the stave finishing. The main complaints are the burn at full proof and how hard it is to find.

What people mention
  • ProofMixedDrinkers find it bold and flavorful but hot neat, and many add water or ice.
  • Flavor depthPraisedOwners describe more caramel, vanilla and oak than the standard 46.
  • Stave finishPraisedThe seared French oak staves are credited with the toasted spice and sweetness.
  • AvailabilityCriticisedFans complain it is hard to find and not consistently stocked.

Questions and answers

Which is better for a beginner?
Buffalo Trace. At 90 proof it is smooth and balanced with little burn, while Maker's 46 Cask Strength is hot enough to need water or ice.
Which is better for sipping neat?
Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength gives more depth and a longer finish, but only if you like high proof. Buffalo Trace is the easier neat pour.
Which lasts longer once opened?
Both keep for years in a sealed, upright bottle out of sunlight. Proof does not change shelf life much; the Maker's higher strength slows oxidation slightly.
Is the Maker's 46 Cask Strength worth stepping up to?
If you already like standard Maker's 46 and want more intensity and oak, yes. If you want an easy everyday pour, Buffalo Trace is the better fit.
Which is better for cocktails?
Buffalo Trace. Its lower proof and balanced sweetness mix cleanly, while the cask strength Maker's can overpower a drink unless you adjust the recipe.

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70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley