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David Nicholson 1843 vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Put David Nicholson 1843 next to Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and you have a sourced, high-wheat blend set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$33 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/8 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).