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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Put Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel next to Uncle Nearest 1856 and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- 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 Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).