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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series vs David Nicholson Reserve
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and David Nicholson Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$30 – $40).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$28 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and David Nicholson Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/3 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).