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Buffalo Trace vs David Nicholson 1843
Buffalo Trace and David Nicholson 1843 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a sourced, wheat-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$25 – $35 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/3 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- 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 Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).