Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing David Nicholson 1843 and New Riff 8 Year reveals a matchup between a blender-built, wheated bottling and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$38 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/8 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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 New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).