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W.L. Weller Full Proof vs Uncle Nearest 1856
W.L. Weller Full Proof and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Full Proof | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 114 proof (57% ABV) +14 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $120 | ~$55 – $70 ~$23 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Full Proof and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
W.L. Weller Full Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Full Proof Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/5 spice: W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: W.L. Weller Full Proof 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Full Proof 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: W.L. Weller Full Proof 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Full Proof 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- W.L. Weller Full Proof: Weller's wheated bourbon bottled at its barrel-entry proof of 114, without chill filtering. Coffee cake, caramel and cinnamon with a bold, warming body.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller Full Proof if you want a bold, sweet wheater bottled at barrel-entry proof with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (W.L. Weller Full Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).