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David Nicholson 1843 vs Ancient Age
David Nicholson 1843 and Ancient Age sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, wheat-forward blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Ancient Age |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 | ~$14 – $18 ~$14 less |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Ancient Age do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Ancient Age
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/2 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Ancient Age 5 out of 10
spice 3/4 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
oak 4/3 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Ancient Age 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history.
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); cocktails, highball (Ancient Age).