Compare
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Uncle Nearest 1856 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$85 – $100 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$55 – $70 ~$30 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).