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Maker's Mark vs David Nicholson 1843
On paper Maker's Mark and David Nicholson 1843 are near neighbours — both wheated bourbons — so proof (90 vs. 100) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$25 – $35 |
- 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
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/5 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
spice 2/3 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
- 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 Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).