Compare
Four Roses Small Batch vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Uncle Nearest 1856 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$28 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
- 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 if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a 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 neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).