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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs David Nicholson 1843
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and David Nicholson 1843 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a sourced, wheat-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 13 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$25 – $35 ~$220 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
spice 6/3 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
heat 8/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak 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 and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).