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David Nicholson 1843 vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
David Nicholson 1843 and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 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 | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $35 ~$40 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- David Nicholson 1843 and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson 1843 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/9 heat: David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).