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David Nicholson Reserve vs Basil Hayden’s
David Nicholson Reserve and Basil Hayden’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Basil Hayden’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$7 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- David Nicholson Reserve and Basil Hayden’s do not publish an official mash bill.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 Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Basil Hayden’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Basil Hayden’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/3 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 2 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Basil Hayden’s 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
- Basil Hayden’s: Built on the high-rye Old Grand-Dad mash but bottled at just 80 proof, which makes it the lightest thing in the Beam range by a distance. Peppery and herbal, but very thin — the price reflects the packaging more than the liquid.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
- Go with Basil Hayden’s if you want an unusually light, peppery, low-proof pour and you do not want any weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks, highball (Basil Hayden’s).