David Nicholson Reserve Bourbon

I found this to be a very middle of the road bottle. Nothing bad about it but nothing to write home about. It’s got a little bit of a heaven hill nuttiness to it. I get a little spice, some oak. For $25 this is a fair value, but I think the problem is that this doesn’t really differentiate itself from Heaven hill products that are an even better value and have similar taste.

👃 chives, parsley, and a little bit of rye spice 👄 Very different than the nose. More traditional cinnamon, vanilla, and wheat 🏁 Sweeter finish with a bit of that rye note from the nose

Has some bite! Another great one from Lux row distillery. Not as sweet as the others but still great flavors all around

DAVID NICHOLSON RESERVE *NOSE: Oak, Peanut Shell, Orange Creme, Vanilla, Hay, and Light Fall Spice. Simple, but nice. *NEAT: Vanilla, Orange Oil, Light Oak, Slightly Bitter Tannins, all served up with a Peppery Tingle. A mild, building KYHug with a thin coating of Bitter Oak, Orange Oils and Peanut Shell coating the palate. Classic Heaven Hill. *SPLASH: A little water makes this All Vanilla Creme. *VERDICT: I keep seeing this referred to as "High Rye". If this, as my palate and all other information I can find, is truly Heaven Hill then that would make it 10% Rye. Hardly what I'd consider "high rye" unless you're comparing it to Nicholson's other release (1843) which has NO Rye. There is a certain spiciness here, but I suspect that's more a byproduct of the proof and barrel placement than rye content. It is quite good and perfectly serviceable neat, rocks, or mixed. Where this one loses me is price. It's Mid-$30's price tag takes it out of consideration for me based on the availability of so much equal or better whiskey in that same range. Knob Creek (9year and also 100 Proof), WT101 ($10 less), OGD114 (Actually "High Rye"), Dickel Bourbon (8year age statement), Jack Daniel's BIB (100 Proof and my early leader for best new whisky this year) all immediately come to mind as better options, and I'm sure there are more. It was worth a try to satisfy my curiosity, but nothing special enough to warrant a repeat buy.