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David Nicholson Reserve vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
David Nicholson Reserve and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$30 – $40 vs. ~$35 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$5 less | ~$35 – $45 |
- 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.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
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 Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year).