THINK OF A BOTTLE of whiskey as a loaf of bread, only more fun. In both bottle and loaf, the flavor you get is determined to a great degree by the grains included. If you favor the sweet funk of corn, drink bourbon. Perhaps you’re looking for something a little sharper? Try rye. But if you want something fulsome and welcoming—versatile, while still possessing character and a bit of backbone—go for a spirit that brings to the fore one of the less touted grains in the distiller’s arsenal: wheat.

Maker’s Mark is probably the...