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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Put Blanton’s Single Barrel next to Uncle Nearest 1856 and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$55 – $70 ~$53 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- Uncle Nearest 1856: Named for Nathan 'Nearest' Green, the enslaved distiller who taught Jack Daniel, and now backed by the brand's own distillery in Shelbyville. Sweet and maple-leaning with the charcoal-mellowed softness of the style.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).