Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve.
It’s an American Whiskey showdown!
Both are respectable bourbons in their own right. But which bottle is better?
Moreover, which is the better value?
We’ll answer that and more below.
Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve: An Overview
Maker’s Mark is one of the most recognizable brands in bourbon. They’re most well-known for their red wax and wheated flavor profile.
The standard expression of Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon produced in batches of no more than 1,000 gallons (19 barrels). To balance out the temperature changes that each barrel is exposed to, barrels are cycled between the upper and lower floors of the rickhouse.
Standing at the other corner is Woodford Reserve—a Brown-Forman brand, maker of iconic alcoholic beverages including Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s. They produce 7 distinct Woodford Reserve flavors at their distillery, which is home to a National Historic Landmark.
Woodford Reserve wants to be recognized as a premium whiskey. They differentiate themselves in their manufacturing method by triple distilling their distillate in pot stills (most brands double distill).
The key distinction between the flavor profiles of Maker’s and Woodford is their secondary grains. Maker’s Mark uses 16% wheat and 14% malted barley while Woodford contains 18% rye and 10% malt.
This seemingly small difference makes a big taste difference.
Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve: A Detailed Comparison
1. Price
Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve are both reasonably priced.
Maker’s Mark has a suggested retail price of around $30 for a 750mL bottle and is bottled at 90-proof.
Woodford Reserve, on the other hand, is about $35 for a 750mL bottle and comes in at 90.4 proof.
Obviously, Maker’s Mark is cheaper and we’ll see later on if Woodford provides extra value or flavor for their slightly higher price.
Winner = Maker’s Mark
2. Taste
Maker’s Mark is smooth and easy to drink with aromas of vanilla and oak, however, it has less flavor than the rich nose would imply. This bourbon is really simple to sip neat thanks to an almost buttery mouthfeel.
With toffee and a little more spice than you may expect, the oak shows through more towards the aftertaste. It has a fairly decent but unremarkable finish.
The palette of Woodford Reserve on the other hand is significantly thinner than anticipated and far less complex than Woodford’s marketing materials would have you believe.
I mostly detected rye, oak, vanilla, and a faint citrus flavor. No, it’s not terrible, but it’s hardly the “highest quality whiskey”.
It also has a decent, medium-length finish with notes of oak and tobacco.
Neither of these bottles has incredible flavor. The main differences come in detectable notes. After tasting each several times, I feel like they are nearly identical in terms of how good they taste.
Winner = Tie
3. Value
These days, Woodford typically costs roughly $35. The problem is that there are several far better bourbons at the $30 price point.
That’s not to say Woodford is bad. It’s a solid pour. But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a premium bottle.
Maker’s Mark, on the other hand, doesn’t try to be a fancy bourbon. It knows it’s a mellow, affordable pour that can be enjoyed by just about anyone.
Its wheated profile makes it much more versatile and approachable, in my opinion. It makes great cocktails and can be enjoyed neat.
And, most importantly, the extra $5 for Woodford Reserve honestly doesn’t get you anything more. It just gets you a slightly less sweet pour. So if you like more rye-forward bourbons, go with Woodford.
As for me, Maker’s Mark is easily the better value.
Winner = Maker’s Mark
Verdict
Overall, Maker’s Mark is a better value, more well-rounded bourbon. It makes an excellent “everyday whiskey” for those searching for a non-challenging sipper or a suitable entry-level bottle for those intrigued about bourbon.
This is a versatile bourbon that may be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in your own homemade cocktails.
And as I stated earlier, Woodford Reserve isn’t bad by any means. In fact, it is a solid pour, but I would much rather purchase a bottle of Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace, or Evan Williams White Label and keep a few dollars in my pocket.
Looking for a more in-depth analysis of each?
Click here to read the Maker’s Mark Bourbon Review and here to read the Woodford Reserve review.
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.