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David Nicholson Reserve vs Wild Turkey 101
David Nicholson Reserve and Wild Turkey 101 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 | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 | ~$25 – $30 ~$8 less |
- 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/8 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).