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New Riff 8 Year vs David Nicholson 1843
Comparing New Riff 8 Year and David Nicholson 1843 reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a sourced, wheated blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$25 – $35 ~$38 less |
- David Nicholson 1843 does 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
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/3 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
- 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 New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).