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David Nicholson Reserve vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
David Nicholson Reserve and Eagle Rare 12 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$30 – $40 vs. ~$50 – $80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$30 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson Reserve and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/6 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak 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 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).