Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch

1884 Small Batch is a Tennessee whiskey from Uncle Nearest, bottled at 46.5% ABV (93 proof). The name refers to 1884, the year the brand says Nathan "Nearest" Green last filled barrels before retiring. Green is the formerly enslaved distiller the brand credits with teaching Jack Daniel to distill. Each batch is built from barrels chosen by co-founder and CEO Fawn Weaver. A descendant of Green curates each batch and has their name printed on the back label. The brand says the whiskey is aged at least seven years, but the bottle carries no age statement. The label gives no official tasting notes, so what follows is what Tennessee whiskeys in this style usually deliver. Expect a corn-led sweetness of caramel, brown sugar and vanilla, with toasted oak and light char behind it. Rye or malted barley in the mash bill typically adds a little baking spice. Tennessee whiskey is traditionally filtered through charcoal before bottling, and that step tends to smooth the texture. At 46.5% the whiskey has enough weight to hold up in a mixed drink. Neat is the best way to learn the profile. If it feels hot on the first sip, add a few drops of water, which loosens the aromatics and softens the alcohol without flattening the oak. One large cube in a rocks glass works if you want it cooler and slower, but expect the sweetness to tighten as it chills. A Glencairn suits close nosing, since the tapered rim concentrates the vanilla and oak. A rocks glass is the better choice for relaxed sipping. In cocktails, a whiskey like this works well in an Old Fashioned, where the caramel and oak need only a sugar cube, a couple of dashes of bitters and an orange peel. In a Manhattan, sweet vermouth and Angostura bring out the spice. In a Whiskey Sour, the sweeter body balances the lemon without needing much extra sugar. For a highball, pour over plenty of ice and top with soda water or ginger ale for a lighter drink that keeps the oak and vanilla. Smoked or barbecued meats, aged cheddar and dark chocolate are natural pairings for the sweetness and char.