Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs David Nicholson 1843
Comparing W.L. Weller Special Reserve and David Nicholson 1843 is a closer contest than it looks — both are wheated bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$25 – $35 ~$15 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and David Nicholson 1843 do not publish an official mash bill.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
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
spice 2/3 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
- 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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).