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David Nicholson 1843 vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
David Nicholson 1843 and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, wheat-forward blend versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$15 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
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Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
spice 3/3 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a lower price point.
- Go with Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).