Im starting to look for an alternative to Makers Mark.

Not bc I'm getting tired of it, but bc I'm afraid I'll get burnt out of the bourbon I love.

So far:
- Willet - Very close. Would work as an alternate, but not thrilled about the price point
- W.L. Weller (12 yr) - Missed the mark.
- 1792 - Again, missed the mark. Not bad, but too different from Makers.

woodford

1792
Wathens

why stick with bourbon? try some nice aged rums.

Buffalo Trace is what I'd sub in for that price point.

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Buffalo Trace is what I'd sub in for that price point.

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Beat me to it!

I drink Maker's regularly but currently also have:
Eagle Rare
Buffalo Trace
Woodford
Weller 107

I enjoy them all, Buffalo Trace probably being the closest to Maker's in taste and price point.

I tried Eagle Rare recently and liked it a lot.

Makers is a wheated bourbon, it gets its flavor profile predominantly from wheat rather than rye.

To my knowledge, Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, and Makers are the only bourbon distilleries that crank out wheated bourbons. These all should have roughly similar flavor profiles to Makers, but give you some room for variety. If you're looking to branch into non-wheats, I always love Woodford and Four Roses Single Barrel, Eagle Rare is great as well.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 year (107 proof)
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year (90.4 proof)
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 year (95.6 proof)
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 year (90.4 proof)
Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 year (107 proof)
Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 year (90 proof)
W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 year (90 proof)
Old Weller Antique 7 year (107 proof)
W.L. Weller 12 Year (90 proof )
William LaRue Weller [2010 release] 12 year (126.6 proof)

Maker’s Mark Distillery

Maker’s Mark c. 7 years (90 proof)
Maker’s Mark 46 c. 7 years (94 proof)

Heaven Hill Distillery

Old Fitzgerald (80 and 86 proof)
Old Fitzgerald 12 year (90 proof)
Old Fitzgerald Very Special 12 year (90 proof)
Old Fitzgerald’s 1849 8 year ( 90 proof)
Very Old Fitzgerald 8 year (100 proof)
Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12 year (100 proof)
Old Fitzgerald [Green label] 6 year (100 Proof)
Rebel Yell 4 year (80 proof)
Rebel Reserve 4 year (90.6 proof)
Cabin Still 4 year (80 proof)

[This message has been edited by GregZeppelin (edited 6/6/2012 5:59p).]

[This message has been edited by GregZeppelin (edited 6/6/2012 6:02p).]

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1792 - Again, missed the mark. Not bad, but too different from Makers.

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That's why it's so good. I can barely choke down Makers anymore.

ANYTHING is a good alternative to Makers!

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ANYTHING is a good alternative to Makers!

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I never got the fascination with Makers.

Yeah for a wheat bourbon the buffalo trace family is far better than makers

But I don't really understand the question. You're afraid you'll get tired of makers so you want something else, but you want it to taste like makers?

[This message has been edited by '03ag (edited 6/7/2012 9:42a).]

Rowans creek
Basil haydens

Willet is fantastic though

Some of my favorites from my current collection:
Van Winkle 10 yr (90 and 107) and 12 yr
Eagle Rare
Baker's
Basil Hayden
Elijah Craig 12 yr
Knob Creek


Sazerac Rye

I hated bourbon until a friend got me a bottle of Knob Creek Small Batch as a housewarming gift. Might be hooked now, though I still can drink it straight.

Can't wait to try some others.

Makers? hah, try a real bourbon

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Makers? hah, try a real bourbon

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ahhh...memories from long nights at the Hall of Fame (RIP)

yeh I'll always have a little place in my heart for sunny brook.

Had Blanton's for the first time the other day and thought it was good.

I'm working on trying to develop a more refined palate.

Makes me sick to think how much SB I drank in college.

Basil Hayden is great

Bulliet or Four Roses Small Batch.

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I never got the fascination with Makers.

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According to people I've talked to who have had the opportunity to try unopened bottles of 70's and 80's vintage Maker's, it was pretty good stuff at one time (back when the Samuels family still called the shots). Now it's just another in a long line of once quality products that have been reduced to bland mediocrity by soulless corporate bean counters.

I too have a love hate with Makers. More becasue of the price tag on the bottle. For the price point never forget about the dirty bird.
Wild Turkey 101 is a great sub and almost $20/less/bottle

Also agree the Van Winkle 15 or 20 might be heaven in a bottle but again, taste better at a friends house on his dime.
BTW, I can't hardly find it anywhere in stock. Anyone else have the same problem? Any recomendations on a source chain store that has stock?

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I too have a love hate with Makers. More becasue of the price tag on the bottle. For the price point never forget about the dirty bird.
Wild Turkey 101 is a great sub and almost $20/less/bottle

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I loved Makers a long time ago before I started trying better bourbons. It does not do well when I put up in blind taste tests against other bourbons, usually coming in 3rd or 4th out of 4. I love Wild Turkey 101. It's $32-34/1.75 & Makers is $37-40/1.75 here in Denver.

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Also agree the Van Winkle 15 or 20 might be heaven in a bottle but again, taste better at a friends house on his dime.
BTW, I can't hardly find it anywhere in stock.

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I love all the Van Winkles. I can only speak for Colorado, but our main shipment is late November and early December. Some places get a March shipment. I currently have 3 opened bottles and 2 unopened bottles. I heard of a place that gets a huge shipment around Thanksgiving every year, and I plan to get 6-8 bottles next year.