Compare
Four Roses Bourbon vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Four Roses Bourbon and Uncle Nearest 1856 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 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
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- 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 (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).