David Nicholson 1843 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
David Nicholson · Lux Row Distillers
David Nicholson 1843 is an exercise in letting good ingredients do the talking. At 100 proof it has enough structure to stand up in cocktails but enough grace to sip neat. A daily-driver bourbon that punches well above its price.
Nose
Opens with soft caramel and a clean corn sweetness that doesn't overreach. Behind it, a measured wave of vanilla and toasted oak arrives without any char-forward aggression. A faint whiff of dried cherry rounds out the bouquet.
Palate
The entry is buttery and composed, with brown spices and butterscotch weaving together at a comfortable proof. Mid-palate introduces light leather and a pleasant nuttiness. There's a warmth here that never turns to heat.
Finish
Medium-length with caramel fading into a gentle charred oak note. Clean and unhurried.
- Mash Bill
- Undisclosed, corn-heavy traditional bourbon mash
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
The Nicholson Neat Sour — 2 oz David Nicholson 1843 · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz demerara syrup · 1 dash Angostura bitters · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a lemon wheel.
Food Pairing
Smoked pork chops with a brown sugar glaze
Named for a 19th-century St. Louis grocer who sourced his whiskey from what would become the Old Forester recipe, David Nicholson 1843 is now distilled at Lux Row in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Lux Row Distillers Ezra Brooks 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Ezra Brooks
Seven years in the barrel give this bourbon a maturity that the brand's younger expressions can't match. The binding here is oak integration—tannin, vanillin, and lactone working in sync with the grain character. An honest, well-priced straight bourbon that performs above its shelf position.
David Nicholson Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
David Nicholson
David Nicholson Reserve punches well above its modest price, offering layered complexity that rewards patient sipping. The 100-proof backbone gives it cocktail versatility without sacrificing neat-pour nuance. A workhorse bourbon that deserves more shelf attention.
Rebel Cask Strength Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Rebel
Lux Row's wheated mash bill gets a proper showcase at cask strength, where the grain's inherent softness meets the barrel's intensity head-on. This is a bourbon that rewards patience — a splash of water opens honeyed wheat notes that the proof initially conceals. A serious sipper that punches well above its price point.
Ezra Brooks 99 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Ezra Brooks
Ezra Brooks 99 punches well above its price point, delivering a balanced pour with enough proof to stand up in cocktails while remaining comfortable neat. It's a workhorse bourbon that rewards attention without demanding it.
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2024 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Yellowstone
This limited edition blend leverages the contrast between younger high-rye punch and the deep, integrated wood character of its older components. The result is a bourbon that showcases char-level influence without becoming tannic. A compelling study in what extended barrel contact can achieve.
Calumet Farm 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Calumet Farm
A polished, approachable bourbon that lets eight years of Kentucky heat do the talking. The oak influence is present but restrained, with enough sweetness and spice to hold interest. A solid daily drinker that punches well above its price.
Stellum Lyra Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
Stellum
Stellum's single barrel program lets the cask do the talking, and this bottling delivers a bourbon where every sip reflects the depth of its barrel interaction. The high proof carries tremendous flavor density without bitterness. A serious sipper that rewards patience.
Old Bardstown Estate Bottled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Old Bardstown
Old Bardstown Estate delivers Willett's pot-still character in an approachable, no-nonsense package. It rewards attention without demanding ceremony — a bourbon that respects both the craft and the drinker. Hard to beat at this price.