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David Nicholson 1843 vs Rowan's Creek
David Nicholson 1843 and Rowan's Creek sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$15 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Rowan's Creek do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/7 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 5 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift 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 lower price point.
- Go with Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).