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Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select vs David Nicholson Reserve
Comparing Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select and David Nicholson Reserve is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional Tennessee whiskeys, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$30 – $40).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$30 – $40 ~$15 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select: Barrels pulled from the top of the rickhouse, where the temperature swings are hardest, and it shows as considerably more oak than any standard Jack. A genuinely different proposition from the black label.
- 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 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select if you want a distinctly oakier, more concentrated Tennessee whiskey with barrel-to-barrel character.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).