Compare
Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to Uncle Nearest 1856 and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$55 – $70 ~$15 less |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Charles Goodnight Bourbon: A barrel-strength Texas bourbon. The hot Texas climate pulls a lot of oak in six years, giving deep wood, brown sugar and dark fruit with plenty of rye spice.
- 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 Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).