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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and Uncle Nearest 1856 is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by proof (94 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$10 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve and Uncle Nearest 1856 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/7 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- 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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Uncle Nearest 1856 if you want a sweet, maple-forward Tennessee whiskey with a story worth knowing behind it with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).