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Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year vs David Nicholson Reserve
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year and David Nicholson Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$35 – $45 vs. ~$30 – $40).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 | ~$30 – $40 ~$5 less |
- David Nicholson Reserve 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
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).