Compare
Evan Williams Black Label vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Evan Williams Black Label and Uncle Nearest 1856 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$14 – $18 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$47 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
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).