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David Nicholson 1843 vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
David Nicholson 1843 and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, wheat-forward blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| 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.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).