Compare
Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Elijah Craig Small Batch and Uncle Nearest 1856 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$28 – $35 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$31 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 does 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
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- 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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).