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Uncle Nearest 1856 vs David Nicholson Reserve
Uncle Nearest 1856 and David Nicholson Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional Tennessee whiskeys, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$30 – $40).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$28 less |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and David Nicholson Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).