Compare
Ezra Brooks 99 vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Ezra Brooks 99 and Uncle Nearest 1856 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$22 – $28 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ezra Brooks 99 | 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 | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Ezra Brooks 99 and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ezra Brooks 99 Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 2/5 fruit: Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Ezra Brooks 99: A high-proof value bottle from Lux Row. The nose is quiet, but the palate is bolder, with creamy caramel, brown sugar and a nutty, peanut-like edge.
- 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 Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon 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.
Best enjoyed rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).