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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked vs Uncle Nearest 1856
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Uncle Nearest 1856 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Uncle Nearest 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $62 ~$7 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Uncle Nearest 1856
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/7 oak: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 3 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Uncle Nearest 1856 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
- 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 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon 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 (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Uncle Nearest 1856).