Compare
Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and Uncle Nearest 1856 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by proof (95 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/5 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
- 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).