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David Nicholson 1843 vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing David Nicholson 1843 and Elijah Craig Small Batch reveals a matchup between a blender-built, wheated bottling and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 | ~$28 – $35 |
- David Nicholson 1843 does 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.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history.
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).