Uncle Nearest Master Blend Whiskey 750ML is a cask-strength Tennessee whiskey bottled at 122.9 proof (61.45% ABV) in a 750ml bottle, blended from barrels aged a minimum of 11 years. Named World's Best Bourbon by America's top bartenders at the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards, this expression has amassed more than 270 awards to date, including 46 Double Golds and 106 Golds across international competitions.Quick Facts: ABV: 61.45% (122.9 proof) | Origin: Shelbyville, Tennessee, USA | Minimum 11 Years Aged, Cask Strength | Distillery: Nearest Green DistilleryProduction & HeritageUncle Nearest Master Blend is produced at Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee — a facility named after Nathan "Nearest" Green, the formerly enslaved man widely credited with teaching Jack Daniel the art of Tennessee whiskey-making. The whiskey is made from a mashbill of corn, rye, and barley (exact proportions undisclosed) and undergoes the Lincoln County Process, filtering through sugar-maple charcoal before entering barrels for aging. Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler — a direct descendant of Nearest Green — personally selects individual barrels she considers the most exceptional from each batch, then blends them together and bottles the result at full barrel strength without dilution, making every edition a unique snapshot of the distillery's finest aged stock.Tasting NotesAroma: Deep caramel and toasted oak lead, followed by waves of cinnamon-laced baking spice and subtle dried fruit. Orange peel and maple add brightness beneath the heavier notes, with fresh spice keeping the nose lively despite the high proof.Taste: The entry is dense and coating — brown sugar and vanilla arrive immediately, then give way to charred oak and dark chocolate at mid-palate. Peppery rye spice builds steadily as coffee and cinnamon notes emerge, balancing the sweetness with real structural grip. The cask-strength intensity amplifies every layer without veering into harshness.Finish: Exceptionally long and warming, with sweet oak, lingering baking spice, and a peppery heat that slowly recedes. Chocolate and coffee echoes persist well after the sip, rewarding patience between pours.How to Drink Master BlendAt 122.9 proof, this whiskey rewards a few drops of water to open up the deeper caramel and dried fruit notes; tasting it neat first, then gradually adding water, reveals how the profile shifts at different dilutions. For cocktails, the cask-strength backbone holds its own against bold mixers: try it in an Old Fashioned, where the brown sugar and oak stand up to bitters without getting lost; a Manhattan, where the spice and chocolate notes harmonize with sweet vermouth; or a Whiskey Sour, where the high proof cuts through citrus and simple syrup to deliver a rich, full-bodied drink.Best For Gifting a serious whiskey collector or barrel-proof enthusiast Celebrating milestones with a high-proof, limited-edition pour Side-by-side tastings comparing Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon styles Building a home bar anchored by award-winning American whiskey Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Master Blend taste like? Master Blend delivers rich brown sugar, vanilla, and charred oak up front, layered with cinnamon, coffee, and dark chocolate, finishing with a long peppery warmth that reflects its 122.9-proof intensity.How does Master Blend compare to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof? Both are high-proof American whiskeys with pronounced oak and baking-spice character, but Master Blend undergoes the Lincoln County Process charcoal filtration that Elijah Craig Barrel Proof does not, giving it a slightly smoother entry and a distinct maple-influenced sweetness alongside similar barrel-driven intensity.Is Master Blend good for sipping neat? It is an outstanding neat pour for drinkers who enjoy cask-strength whiskey, though a splash of water helps unlock subtler fruit and caramel notes hidden behind the 61.45% ABV.Where is Master Blend made? Master Blend is produced and bottled at Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee, located in the heart of the state's whiskey-producing region about an hour south of Nashville.What foods pair well with Master Blend? Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs complement the charred oak and spice; dark chocolate truffles echo the coffee and cocoa notes; pecan pie mirrors the brown sugar sweetness; aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the caramel richness; and crème brûlée pairs naturally with the vanilla and toasted sugar character.What sizes does Master Blend come in? Uncle Nearest Master Blend Whiskey is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.Is Master Blend worth the price? Master Blend positions as a premium-to-ultra-premium cask-strength expression with an 11-year-plus age statement and more than 270 competition awards, placing it in competitive territory with other top-tier barrel-proof American whiskeys while offering a distinctive Tennessee character that justifies its price tier.Why Master Blend?With every edition bottled at full barrel strength from barrels aged at least 11 years and hand-selected by Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blend is not a mass-produced product — it is a curated statement of what Nearest Green Distillery's best aged stock can deliver. The 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards recognition as World's Best Bourbon, alongside Platinum awards at both the San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge and the Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, reflects broad professional consensus rather than a single outlier score. The Lincoln County Process charcoal mellowing combined with cask-strength bottling creates a profile that bridges Tennessee whiskey tradition and the barrel-proof intensity bourbon collectors seek. For drinkers who want provable quality backed by both critical acclaim and a genuinely meaningful American distilling heritage, this expression has few equals in its class.
