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Penelope Architect vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Penelope Architect and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Architect | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Four-Grain Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $70 | ~$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
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Architect Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Penelope Architect 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Penelope Architect 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Architect 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Architect 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
- 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 Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice.
- 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 (Penelope Architect); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).