Compare
Uncle Nearest 1856 vs Wild Turkey 81
On paper Uncle Nearest 1856 and Wild Turkey 81 are near neighbours — both traditional Tennessee whiskeys — so price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$20 – $25) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Uncle Nearest 1856 | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +19 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$20 – $25 ~$40 less |
- Uncle Nearest 1856 and Wild Turkey 81 do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Uncle Nearest 1856 Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).