Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
David Nicholson 1843 and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, wheat-forward blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$80 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
spice 3/4 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).