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David Nicholson Reserve vs Four Roses Small Batch
David Nicholson Reserve and Four Roses Small Batch 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 | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 | ~$32 – $38 |
- David Nicholson Reserve does 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.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/7 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).