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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 Small Batch Select | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
- 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 Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).