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Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Uncle Nearest 1856 and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 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.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/6 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 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.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).