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Basil Hayden’s vs David Nicholson Reserve
Basil Hayden’s and David Nicholson Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Basil Hayden’s | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional 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 | ~$30 – $40 ~$7 less |
- Basil Hayden’s and David Nicholson Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Basil Hayden’s David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 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 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 Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).