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Booker’s vs David Nicholson 1843
Comparing Booker’s and David Nicholson 1843 reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a sourced, wheated blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$25 – $35 ~$68 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/5 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
spice 7/3 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- 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 Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly more proof behind it and 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 significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).