Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch - 46.5%
Generally, I like Dickel more than the next guy. From the 17 yr gift shop bottle to some of the early Barrell releases and old school 14 yr 106 proof store picks, I often score their juice higher than most. It's not always a hit for me. Some of the Smooth Ambler releases were rough and the lower proof official bottlings have never landed for me.
When it comes to Uncle Nearest, the early batches of 1856 100 proof I tried were enjoyable, delivering a mature profile at an elevated proof. However, the specs on 1884 raises some red flags - probably young, under 100 proof.
If you aren't familiar with the brand history behind Uncle Nearest and Nathan Green, it's worth a read - https://unclenearest.com/history/.
Nose: Bright fruits and minerality. Dickel Flintstone vitamins. Medium oak.
Flavor: Bitter and medicinal. Citrus. Oak. Cherry cough syrup. These notes veer into unpleasant territory exasperated by the thin body.
Structure: Thin and dry. High and linear. Short finish. Total miss.
Alcohol Integration: Drinks detrimentally under proof.
Score: 3 (Anything else?) Nose is ok, but then...
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Give the Dickel 11 yr. Bottled in Bond a roll to scratch the Dickel itch at a reasonable price.
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour