Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing New Riff Single Barrel and Uncle Nearest 1856 reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$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
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- New Riff Single Barrel: The single-barrel expression of New Riff's 30% rye mash, non-chill-filtered and at higher proof than the bonded version. As dry and peppery as bourbon gets before it stops being bourbon.
- 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 New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top 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, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).