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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs David Nicholson 1843
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and David Nicholson 1843 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$25 – $35 ~$55 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- David Nicholson 1843 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
spice 7/3 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
heat 9/5 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
- David Nicholson 1843: A long-running wheated label at 100 proof. Smooth vanilla and caramel with a soft, bready body and a touch more spice than you would expect from a wheater.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).