Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs Knob Creek 12 Year
Comparing David Nicholson 1843 and Knob Creek 12 Year reveals a matchup between a blender-built, wheated bottling and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Knob Creek 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$33 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Knob Creek 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Knob Creek 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Knob Creek 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 9 out of 10
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Knob Creek 12 Year 5 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.
- Knob Creek 12 Year: Three more years in the barrel than the standard Knob Creek, and the wood does all the talking. Deep oak and leather over the familiar Beam peanut note, drying toward genuinely tannic on the finish.
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 Knob Creek 12 Year if you want the Beam house profile pushed as far into oak as it goes while staying balanced.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks (Knob Creek 12 Year).