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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs David Nicholson Reserve
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and David Nicholson Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$30 – $40 ~$10 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
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/5 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 3/6 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
- 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 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).