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David Nicholson Reserve vs Woodford Reserve
David Nicholson Reserve and Woodford Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | David Nicholson Reserve | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $40 | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
David Nicholson Reserve Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/6 fruit: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).