Compare
David Nicholson 1843 vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Comparing David Nicholson 1843 and W.L. Weller Special Reserve is a closer contest than it looks — both are wheated bourbons, separated mainly by proof (100 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson 1843 | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$15 less | ~$30 – $60 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson 1843 and W.L. Weller Special Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/3 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
spice 3/2 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
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 and without hunting for it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).