Compare
Booker’s vs David Nicholson Reserve
Booker’s and David Nicholson Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional 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 | ~$30 – $40 ~$63 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s and David Nicholson Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/5 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 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 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 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 Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).