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Old Forester Statesman vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Put Old Forester Statesman next to Uncle Nearest 1856 and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | 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 | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 ~$10 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 does 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
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).