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Johnny Drum Private Stock vs David Nicholson 1843
Johnny Drum Private Stock and David Nicholson 1843 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Johnny Drum Private Stock | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 | ~$25 – $35 ~$10 less |
- Johnny Drum Private Stock and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Johnny Drum Private Stock David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the finish.
- 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 Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Johnny Drum Private Stock); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).