Uncle Nearest 1884 Premium Small Batch Whiskey is the flagship small batch expression from the fastest growing American whiskey brand in United States history, a label that honors Nearest Green, the formerly enslaved master distiller recognized as the first known African American master distiller and the man who taught Jack Daniel his craft. Launched in 2017, Uncle Nearest swiftly rolled out across all 50 states and abroad, and the 1884 expression has become the heart of the portfolio. Every batch is hand selected by the brand's founders and curated by fifth generation Nearest Green descendant Victoria Eady Butler, whose signature appears on the back of each bottle. Eady Butler has been named Master Blender of the Year multiple times, including consecutive honors from Whisky Magazine in 2021 and 2022, making the personal family stewardship behind this whiskey as meaningful as the liquid itself. Distilled, aged, and bottled entirely by Uncle Nearest in middle Tennessee, the whiskey is built on a corn driven mashbill and filtered through sugar maple charcoal in the traditional Lincoln County Process that defines Tennessee whiskey, lending its signature smoothness. While carrying no formal age statement, the company has stated the whiskey is aged to a substantial maturity, and it is bottled at 93 proof, a number the brand says reflects the proof at which Nearest Green's whiskey would have been served in the 1800s. The result is a refined, approachable, lighter bodied sipper that has earned a wall of awards and a reputation as one of the most accessible premium whiskeys on the market, equally at home neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Uncle Nearest |
| Distillery |
Nearest Green Distillery, Shelbyville, Tennessee |
| Producer |
Uncle Nearest, Inc. |
| Category |
Tennessee Whiskey, Small Batch |
| Expression |
1884 Premium Small Batch |
| Age Statement |
No age statement (company cites a substantial minimum maturity) |
| Mashbill |
Corn driven (at least 51% corn; full recipe undisclosed) |
| Maturation |
New charred American oak; filtered through sugar maple charcoal (Lincoln County Process) |
| Bottling |
Small batch, curated by Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler |
| ABV |
46.5% |
| Proof |
93 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Tennessee |
Tasting Notes
Color: Golden amber to copper.
Nose: Honey and warm brown sugar with cedar, orange peel, and tobacco flower, accented by ground ginger and white pepper.
Palate: Caramel balanced with spicy wood tannins, layered with baking chocolate, cigar leaf, nougat, and cinnamon over a medium mouthfeel.
Finish: Long and smooth, with lingering cinnamon, dark chocolate, oak tannins, and maple syrup.
FAQ
What kind of whiskey is Uncle Nearest 1884? It is a Tennessee whiskey, distilled, aged, and bottled in middle Tennessee and filtered through sugar maple charcoal in the traditional Lincoln County Process.
Who curates each batch? Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler, a fifth generation descendant of Nearest Green, hand curates every batch and signs the back label.
What proof is it? 93 proof, or 46.5 percent ABV, a figure the brand says reflects how Nearest Green's whiskey would have been served in the 1800s.
What is the difference between 1884 and 1856? 1884 is the small batch expression bottled at 93 proof, while 1856 is the higher proof straight bourbon bottled at 100 proof. 1884 is the more accessible everyday sipper.
How should I drink it? It shines neat or on the rocks and is versatile enough for cocktails like an Old Fashioned or the brand's signature Uncle Buck.
Where can I buy Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
