David Nicholson 1843

In celebration of avoiding the outdoors and social interactions, I've decided to open this bottle of David Nicholson from my collection. Given its low price point, my expectations are modest. This is a Luxco product, reportedly sourced from various distilleries, so your experience may differ. If I were handed a glass, my first guess would be that it's from Barton; it has a strong musty, dusty barn wood character with a faint hint of sweet honey and corn. The aroma is acceptable but not remarkable. Upon tasting, I'd identify this as Very Old Barton, perhaps one of their higher proof expressions, and I'd wager a significant amount on it. It's quite unlike Weller or Maker's, suggesting not all such bottles use a wheated mash bill, contrary to popular belief. I detect a strong corn presence with the typical 25% rye and barley. Another possibility could be a Heaven Hill Evan Williams 1783, given this mash bill style. While not inherently bad, it's certainly not a hidden gem, and you shouldn't overpay for it. Adding a small amount of water reduces some of the burn and softens it slightly, making it a pleasant 100 proof standard corn bourbon. We'll see what the newly established Lux Row distillery produces in the future, assuming they continue the label, but for now, it's not a must-try. It's more suited for the average curious drinker like myself, and of course, those on a tight budget. At worst, a bottle will keep you warm on a cold night and help ward off illness! Best wishes!

I bought this on a whim when I saw it on the discontinued shelf, knowing nothing about the product or brand. It's taken me almost a year to finish this underwhelming bottle. Oak and ethanol are prominent on the nose. Dark fruits and dusty corn are hidden behind them but are faint. It's actually a decent nose, a standard bourbon profile despite being a wheated bourbon. The nose is the best part of this bourbon. On the tongue, I get bold notes of oak and corn. The pleasant spice and sweetness I usually associate with bourbon are missing. It then begins to burn on the finish. I enjoy high-proof bourbons, and this is harsher than almost everything I've tried over 100 proof. It's actually more pleasant a year later after mellowing in the bottle. When I first opened it, I would have rated it closer to 1.5 than my current rating. It tastes like a cheap whiskey I drank as a freshman in college, which shouldn't be the case for a $30 bourbon. Although I appreciate Heaven Hill, I don't like Larceny. I wish I had known this was sourced from leftover Larceny and Rebel Yell barrels, as that would have been an immediate deal-breaker. This is one of my least favorite bourbons to date. Fortunately, I can mix the last few pours with Coke and Dr. Pepper to finish the bottle. I'm interested in trying the Reserve, but I'll try to sample it at a bar first.

David Nicholson 1843 was another bourbon I had been wanting to try from the selection of wheated bourbons formerly produced by Stitzel-Weller during the 20th century. I let this sit for about 10 minutes. When I put my nose to it, I smelled ethanol and a faint scent of maple syrup. On the palate, I detected caramel, butter, maple syrup, and some wood. The finish was medium-length and a little oaky, with a bit too much heat for my preference. This isn't bad, but I wouldn't pay $35 for it again. I really like Larceny, and I'm also a fan of Rebel 100. If I were to purchase this regularly: 1) I'd need to be able to find it locally instead of ordering it online from a California liquor store, and 2) I wouldn't be willing to pay more than I do for a bottle of Larceny Small Batch ($26.99) or Rebel 100 ($21.99). Ignoring price and availability, I'd rate this a decent 3.5/5. However, since I find it a bit overpriced and not available nearby, I'm lowering my rating to a 2.75.

I possess a bottle of David Nicholson Reserve, which I've previously reviewed. Now, I'm sampling its wheated bourbon counterpart. The aroma was somewhat subdued initially, so I let it sit for a good 15 minutes to develop. Now, it offers notes of dusty corn, sweet vanilla, light oak, honey, a grassy character, a subtle cooked stone fruit aroma, and a hint of baking spices. The palate is both bitter and somewhat sweet, with a medium body. Flavors include honey, corn, light grass, wood shavings, and some spices. The finish is slightly bitter with lingering notes of honey, corn, and grass. After some time, a faint peanut essence remains on the cheeks. There's a warmth felt on the mid to back palate and the upper throat. This warmth persists longer than the flavors. While the flavor profile has a medium finish, the warmth extends for a considerable duration. It's not truly painful, but the warmth overshadows the flavors rather than enhancing them. It's quite decent, but numerous superior alternatives exist at this price point. Its sibling, David Nicholson Reserve, is the preferable choice.

Delighted to have found this bourbon at Specs Liquors. Having read about it, I purchased a bottle. I'm fond of wheaters, including Weller, Larceny, and even Maker's Mark and Rebel Yell. This expression is quite different. Poured neat, thick legs coat the glass. The nose presents dusty spice, glove leather, molasses, buttery oak, and a hint of smoke. It's not your typical wheater. The palate features spicy oak and cinnamon with peanut shell, burnt pie crust, and a pleasant smoky char. It handles the 100 proof well. Quite flavorful with a long, fantastic finish of oak, spice, and char. It has the signature HH peanut note but incorporates wheater cake/pie crust flavors and an added bonus of smoke/char. I'm impressed with this DN1843. It deviates from a standard wheated bourbon, leaning more towards a hybrid. I haven't tried the Old Fitz BIB, but this is said to be similar. If you can locate this, I recommend it... 82/100... Lip-smacking good. I'll try the DN Reserve next.

I've been wanting to review this excellent Bourbon for some time, but was always distracted before I could write it down. Here we go. I truly enjoy this Bourbon, and it's entirely distinct from its sibling, David Nicholson Reserve. This is a "wheated" Bourbon with a pleasant, smooth sweetness and softness. The aroma is sweet vanilla and perhaps sugar cookies, but with ice, the flavors become quite delightful. It serves as a superb contrast to the boldness of the Reserve, offering smoothness where the other is bold. It makes a fantastic Old Fashioned and Manhattan, though its sweetness requires consideration. Around here, it costs $27, making it an easy recommendation. Enjoy.