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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs David Nicholson 1843
Barrell Foundation Bourbon and David Nicholson 1843 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $60 | ~$25 – $35 ~$25 less |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
- David Nicholson 1843: A long-running wheated label at 100 proof. Smooth vanilla and caramel with a soft, bready body and a touch more spice than you would expect from a wheater.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).