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Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Comparing Uncle Nearest 1856 and Eagle Rare 12 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional Tennessee whiskeys, separated mainly by proof (100 vs. 95).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/6 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak 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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).