Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs Old Grand-Dad 114
Put David Nicholson 1843 next to Old Grand-Dad 114 and you have a blender-built, high-wheat bottling set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Old Grand-Dad 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 | ~$28 – $35 |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Old Grand-Dad 114 do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Old Grand-Dad 114
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/9 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 4 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.
- Old Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114).