Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Put David Nicholson 1843 next to Four Roses Small Batch Select and you have a blender-built, high-wheat bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$30 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/7 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
fruit 4/8 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).