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Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Put Uncle Nearest 1856 next to Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a blender-built, high-wheat bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$49 – $55 ~$11 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/3 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).