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Penelope Toasted Series vs David Nicholson Reserve
Put Penelope Toasted Series next to David Nicholson Reserve and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$28 less |
- David Nicholson Reserve 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
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).