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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Maker’s Mark 46 and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 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
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- 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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).