Bulleit and Maker’s Mark are both 90-proof Kentucky bourbons, and the difference between them is the second grain in the mash: Bulleit uses a large share of rye, Maker’s Mark uses wheat. Everything below follows from that.
This page used to carry tasting notes and prices for each. We sell both bottles, so describing how they taste is advertising rather than information, and prices go stale. That copy has been removed.
Bulleit Bourbon vs. Maker’s Mark
- Brand history: Bulleit was launched in 1987 by Tom Bulleit, who attributes the recipe to an ancestor, Augustus Bulleit, said to have made whiskey in the 1830s. The brand is owned by Diageo, which opened a dedicated Bulleit distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, in 2017.
- Mash bill: 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley. That rye share is roughly double the industry norm, which is what “high-rye bourbon” means.
- Proof: 90 proof, 45% ABV. A 1.5 oz pour is about 1.1 US standard drinks.
- Age: No age statement on the standard bottling. Bulleit also sells a 10-year and a barrel-strength version.
- In an Old Fashioned: Works. The recipe is the same either way; the rye share is the variable, and whether you prefer it is not something a page can tell you.
- Brand history: Maker’s Mark was founded by Bill Samuels Sr., who bought the Burks’ Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, in 1953; first bottles sold in 1958. Now owned by Suntory Global Spirits. The full range is covered here.
- Mash bill: 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, 14% malted barley. No rye at all, which is what “wheated bourbon” means.
- Proof: 90 proof, 45% ABV. Same pour, same 1.1 standard drinks.
- Age: No age statement; bottled when judged ready, typically around six years. The red wax seal is hand-dipped.
- In an Old Fashioned: Also works. Same recipe, wheat instead of rye as the variable.
Conclusion
Same proof, same state, same barrel rules, roughly the same shelf price. One grain differs. If you want to know what that difference does, the honest method is the same Old Fashioned made with each, side by side. Why the grain matters is covered separately.
The fine print
What’s available depends on your address. Enter it and we’ll show you what’s in stock nearby. Delivery is $4.99, plus applicable taxes and fees, shown before you order, as fast as 25 minutes in the best case. Alcohol is 21 and up. ID at the door, every time, no exceptions and no negotiating with the driver.
The fine print
What is available depends on your address. Enter it and we will show you what is in stock nearby: beer, wine, spirits, mixers and snacks. Delivery is $4.99, plus applicable taxes and fees, shown before you order, as fast as 25 minutes in the best case. Alcohol is 21 and up. ID at the door, every time, no exceptions and no negotiating with the driver.
