Compare
Uncle Nearest 1856 vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing Uncle Nearest 1856 and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional Tennessee whiskeys, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$45 – $90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$5 less | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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 at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).