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David Nicholson 1843 vs Four Roses Small Batch
David Nicholson 1843 and Four Roses Small Batch 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 | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$5 less | ~$32 – $38 |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 4/7 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).