7 Bourbon Whiskies To Try If You Like Maker's Mark Whiskey And Where To Buy: Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace To Wild Turkey

Maker's Mark whiskey has a way of winning over people who never thought they liked bourbon. That soft, wheated sweetness, all caramel and vanilla with barely any bite, makes it the bottle most Indian drinkers reach for first when they move on from Scotch or an Indian single malt whisky. But once a bottle or two is gone, the natural question is where to go next, whether that means staying in the same gentle lane or finally trying some spirit with a bit more punch. That is exactly what this list of whisky bottles is for. Just check out these 7 bourbon whiskies to try if you like Maker's Mark whiskey, and where to buy them in India, running from an easy, everyday Jim Beam White Label all the way to the bolder charms of Wild Turkey 101 and Knob Creek's 9-year small batch, with Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam Black Label and the spicier Bulleit Bourbon whiskey filling in the space between. Here's a closer look at each one, along with where to actually find them in Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and more.

Bourbon Whiskies To Try If You Like Maker's Mark Whiskey

Check out these bourbons whiskies if Maker's Mark whiskey is already a fixture on your bar cart:

Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam White is the bourbon most bartenders in India reach for the moment a recipe just says ‘bourbon,’ and it makes a natural first stop for a Maker's Mark whiskey drinker looking for something similarly unfussy. It carries the same easy, corn-forward sweetness, just with a touch more spice on the finish since it leans on rye rather than wheat. Aged four years and bottled at 40% ABV, it works neatly both on its own and in a whiskey sour.

• Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: Rs 1,800 - Rs 2,800 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Most authorised wine and liquor stores across metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai and others.

Jim Beam Black Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

For a Maker's Mark whiskey fan who wants the same comforting sweetness but with more weight behind it, Jim Beam Black whiskey is the logical choice. This whiskey uses the same mash bill as the White Label but rests two years longer and is bottled at a slightly higher 43% ABV, which brings out dried fruit and a deeper caramel character. It is smooth enough to sip neat with a single large ice cube.

• Jim Beam Black Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: Rs 2,500 - Rs 3,800 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Wine and liquor stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Buffalo Trace is arguably the closest cousin to Maker's Mark whiskey on this list in terms of overall balance, even though it is a rye-recipe bourbon rather than a wheated one. It shares that same round, unhurried sweetness, built around brown sugar, toffee and a gentle hint of spice, and it never fights you the way a high-proof bourbon can. It has also picked up more 'world's best bourbon' style awards than almost any other whiskey bottle on Indian shelves.

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: Rs 4,200 - Rs 6,800 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Premium wine and spirits stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

If the appeal of Maker's Mark is the caramel and vanilla rather than a gentle proof, Wild Turkey 101 gives you the same flavour family turned up several notches. Bottled at a defiant 50.5% ABV against Maker's Mark's 45%, it still leads with vanilla and baked apple, just with more heat and a longer, warming finish. It is a good pick for anyone who wants their Old Fashioned to actually taste like whiskey.

• Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: Rs 3,800 - Rs 5,800 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Specialty spirits stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Woodford Reserve whiskey is where a Maker's Mark whiskey drinker goes when they are ready to spend a bit more for extra complexity without losing that approachable sweetness. Triple-distilled and matured in small batches, it layers dried fruit, marzipan and dark chocolate over the familiar vanilla base, with a longer and more textured finish than either Maker's Mark or Buffalo Trace. It is often the bottle recommended to Scotch whisky drinkers making the switch to bourbon.

• Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: Rs 4,800 - Rs 7,500 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Premium liquor stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru

Knob Creek 9 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Knob Creek whiskey was created to bring back the bigger, older-style bourbons that existed before Prohibition, and it shows in the glass. Nine years in oak and a 50% ABV give it a much bolder personality than Maker's Mark, with deep caramel, dark fruit and a long, warm char on the finish. It is the pick for someone who loves the Maker's Mark flavour profile but wants a fuller-bodied, more serious pour to sip through winter.

• Knob Creek 9 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: Rs 3,800 - Rs 5,800 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Well-stocked liquor stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

Bulleit is the one bottle on this list built to taste noticeably different from Maker's Mark, and that is exactly why it belongs here. Where Maker's Mark leans on wheat for a soft, rounded sweetness, Bulleit uses an unusually high 28 percent rye content, which makes it drier, spicier and more peppery. It is worth trying once you know you like bourbon and want to see the other end of the flavour spectrum, especially in cocktails like a Boulevardier or Whiskey Smash.

• Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey Price: Rs 3,200 - Rs 5,000 (approx.)

• Where to buy: Liquor stores across Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Note: These whiskey prices are approximate and may vary by city, retailer, taxes, bottle size and availability.