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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Old Forester 86 Proof 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 86 Proof | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $26 ~$40 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
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
- 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 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
- 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).