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Basil Hayden’s vs David Nicholson 1843
Comparing Basil Hayden’s and David Nicholson 1843 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, wheated bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$25 – $35 ~$12 less |
- Basil Hayden’s and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Basil Hayden’s: Built on the high-rye Old Grand-Dad mash but bottled at just 80 proof, which makes it the lightest thing in the Beam range by a distance. Peppery and herbal, but very thin — the price reflects the packaging more than the liquid.
- 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 Basil Hayden’s if you want an unusually light, peppery, low-proof pour and you do not want any weight in the glass.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).