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Woodford Reserve vs David Nicholson 1843
Woodford Reserve and David Nicholson 1843 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, wheat-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | David Nicholson 1843 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $42 | ~$25 – $35 ~$9 less |
- 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
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson 1843
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve David Nicholson 1843
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, David Nicholson 1843 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
- Go with David Nicholson 1843 if you want a smooth, 100-proof wheater with a long history at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (David Nicholson 1843).