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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 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
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/5 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
- 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 (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).