Maker's Mark
Loretto, Kentucky
Uses winter wheat instead of rye as the flavoring grain. Smoother, less spicy. Bottled at higher proof than the legal minimum.
- Barrel entry proof
- 110
- Aging
- ~6 years, new charred American oak
- Mashbill
- Corn 70%Wheat 16%Malted barley 14%
- Grains
- corn, wheat, malted barley
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 110
- Sugar
- 0g
15.8g ethanol at 45% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓No additives permitted in bourbon
- ✓Wheated mash = gentler profile
- ✓Higher proof reduces hangover dilution
What to watch
- !Barley in mash = gluten
- !Heavy oak congener load
Factor by factor
Congeners High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Maker’s Mark is a benchmark wheated bourbon: easier to drink than rye-heavy bourbons, with all the new-oak chemistry intact.
Maker's Mark questions
How many calories are in a shot of Maker's Mark? ▾
About 110 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 45% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Maker's Mark have sugar? ▾
No. Maker's Mark has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Maker's Mark gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Maker's Mark is distilled from wheat and barley, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What is Maker's Mark made from? ▾
Maker's Mark is made from corn, wheat, malted barley, with a mashbill of 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley.
What proof is Maker's Mark? ▾
Maker's Mark is 90 proof, which is 45% alcohol by volume.
Does Maker's Mark give you a bad hangover? ▾
Maker's Mark scores 6/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for bourbon overall. The main drivers are its congeners.
Is Maker's Mark vegan? ▾
Yes. Maker's Mark is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.