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David Nicholson 1843 vs Four Roses Bourbon
David Nicholson 1843 and Four Roses Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% 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 | ~$22 – $28 ~$5 less |
- 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/2 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
oak 4/3 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).