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Redemption Bourbon vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Redemption Bourbon and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Redemption Bourbon | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 84 proof (42% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$34 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
Redemption Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Redemption Bourbon Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Redemption Bourbon 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Redemption Bourbon 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Redemption Bourbon: Straightforward sourced MGP at a modest proof, and about as clear a reference sample of the high-rye MGP profile as you can buy. Thin neat, but a reliable and inexpensive cocktail 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 Redemption Bourbon if you want an inexpensive, unambiguous example of the MGP high-rye style for mixing at a significantly lower price point.
- 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 old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Redemption Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).