Compare
Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Uncle Nearest 1856 and Elijah Craig Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional Tennessee whiskeys, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$28 – $35).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Elijah Craig 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) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$28 – $35 ~$31 less |
- 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
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).