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David Nicholson Reserve vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
David Nicholson Reserve and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 ~$90 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- David Nicholson Reserve and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).