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David Nicholson 1843 vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Put David Nicholson 1843 next to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and you have a blender-built, high-wheat bottling set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 15 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$295 less | ~$250 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 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 15 Year: The oldest regular Russell's Reserve, at barrel proof. Fifteen years in Camp Nelson rickhouses push it toward old oak, leather and dried fruit over the usual Turkey spice.
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 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).