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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 13 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$55 – $70 ~$188 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).