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David Nicholson Reserve vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
David Nicholson Reserve and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$10 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/9 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
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 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).