Maker's Mark vs Woodford Reserve — Which Kentucky Bourbon Should You Buy? | The Liquor Connoisseur®
- connoisseurofliquo
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Two of Kentucky's most recognized wheated bourbons. Both accessible, both beloved, both constantly recommended to beginners. Crystal and Roger break down which one actually deserves the recommendation.
The Bottles
Maker's Mark: Loretto, Kentucky. Wheated bourbon — wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain. 90 proof standard, 101 proof for Maker's 101. Sealed with distinctive red wax. ~$30 (standard), ~$35 (101). Brown-Forman owned.
Woodford Reserve: Versailles, Kentucky. Triple distilled in copper pot stills — unusual for American bourbon. 90.4 proof. Multiple grain mashbill including rye. ~$35. Also Brown-Forman owned.
Nose
Maker's Mark: soft caramel, vanilla, wheat sweetness, light fruit. The wheat mashbill creates a distinctly rounded, soft nose with no rye spice. Maker's 101 opens this up considerably. Woodford Reserve: dried fruit, chocolate, floral notes, subtle rye spice. More complex nose than Maker's — the copper pot still triple distillation creates a different congener profile.
Palate
Maker's Mark: smooth entry, soft sweetness, vanilla, easy finish. At 90 proof it's extremely approachable. At 101 proof it develops real backbone. Woodford Reserve: richer entry than Maker's, dried fruit, chocolate, warming finish with lingering spice. More going on in the glass.
The Verdict
Woodford Reserve is the more interesting bourbon. More complex, more distinctive, more to learn from. But Maker's Mark 101 is the better value play — at $35 it delivers the soft wheated character with actual proof behind it. Crystal and Roger's recommendation: buy Maker's 101 if you want wheated bourbon at value. Buy Woodford if you want to understand what copper pot still distillation does to bourbon character.
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