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- David Nicholson 1843 and Buffalo Trace do not publish an official mash bill.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