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David Nicholson 1843 vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
David Nicholson 1843 and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$220 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
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 Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).