Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Put David Nicholson 1843 next to Kentucky Owl Batch 12 and you have a sourced, high-wheat blend set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$320 less | ~$300 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/7 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12).