Updated March 2026
Maker’s Mark is wheated Kentucky straight bourbon at 90 proof / 45% ABV — the locked flagship number. Loretto, Kentucky; Suntory Global Spirits. Wheat stands in for rye in the flavoring-grain slot. The 2013 plan to drop to 84 proof was reversed. This is not 46, not 101, not cask strength. Hub: Maker’s Mark.
| Size | ABV | Style | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750 mL | 45% / 90 proof | Kentucky straight bourbon (wheated) | United States — Kentucky |
What the bottle actually is
Identity is 27 CFR 5.143. Proof lock is 90. A 1.5-ounce pour is 1.13 standard drinks; a 750 mL is about 19. Mash-bill percentages are marketing unless a TTB formula is in front of us — we will not invent 70/16/14. Red wax is packaging.
Maker’s 46 is 94 proof with a French-oak stave finish. 101 is 101 proof when labeled. Cask Strength is a batch band. See Maker’s vs 46 and the 46 bottle page.
Lab notes
The catalog description is a founder story, not a nose list. House and prior magazine language: approachable, sweet, easy finish against hotter rye-forward bourbons. We will not invent a banana-and-dill note the brand did not print on this row. Wheat is not automatically the smoothest whiskey alive. For that argument see smoothest whiskey.
Related: vs Buffalo Trace · vs Jack · what to mix.