Compare
Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Uncle Nearest 1856 and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/7 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
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 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).