Compare
David Nicholson Reserve vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing David Nicholson Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$30 – $40 vs. ~$45 – $90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$33 less | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/5 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).