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Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Put Uncle Nearest 1856 next to Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and you have a blender-built, corn-forward bottling set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$19 less | ~$78 – $85 |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and Horse Soldier Barrel Strength do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/7 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength).