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David Nicholson 1843 vs George T. Stagg
David Nicholson 1843 and George T. Stagg sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | George T. Stagg |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 142.8 proof (71.4% ABV) +43 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$445 less | ~$150 – $800 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson 1843 and George T. Stagg do not publish an official mash bill.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.
George T. Stagg
Very complex, with the taste profile moving across the entire palate.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 George T. Stagg
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, George T. Stagg 9 out of 10
heat 5/10 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, George T. Stagg 10 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, George T. Stagg 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, George T. Stagg 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, George T. Stagg 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, George T. Stagg 3 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.
- George T. Stagg: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's barrel-proof bourbon, around 15 years old. Root beer, dark caramel and charred oak at an enormous proof that changes each year.
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 and without hunting for it.
- Go with George T. Stagg if you want the oldest, hottest, most concentrated Buffalo Trace bourbon you can find with significantly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat (George T. Stagg).