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David Nicholson Reserve vs Eagle Rare 10 Year
David Nicholson Reserve and Eagle Rare 10 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Eagle Rare 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$18 less | ~$40 – $65 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson Reserve and Eagle Rare 10 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Eagle Rare 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/4 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 10 Year 4 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 10 Year 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 10 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 10 Year 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 10 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 10 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Eagle Rare 10 Year: A 10-year age statement at a gentle 90 proof gives this a polished, dry-oak elegance rather than power. Toffee and orange peel lead into leather and dried fruit, with a long, notably dry finish.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Eagle Rare 10 Year if you want an elegant, older, low-proof sipper where refinement matters more than intensity.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 10 Year).