A good friend asked that we compare this bourbon trifecta. The three musketeers of overpriced, overhyped, and over-marketed whiskies that make your liver feel expensive and your wallet weep. Let’s dive into this heady world of wood, sweetness, and unearned prestige as we pit Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon, Angel’s Envy Port Finish, and Uncle Nearest 1856 against each other. And of course, we’re using each brand’s flagship, because who needs to explore deeper cuts when you can just grab the “anchor product” that every distillery tells you is their best? Spoiler: it’s usually not.
Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon
Who’s buying it?
Woodford Reserve is the drink of choice for the “I’ll have the best thing on the shelf” crowd. These are the people who want you to think they’re experts in bourbon, but their knowledge only goes as deep as the label. It’s the go-to for the guy at the bar who says, “I’m not really into cheap stuff,” and then orders Woodford Reserve because it’s fancy enough to sound knowledgeable, but not fancy enough to be pretentious. It’s that mid-level flex between “I’m a bourbon aficionado” and “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I want a bottle that looks nice in my kitchen.”
The taste? It’s got all the safe notes—vanilla, caramel, a whisper of oak—and honestly, it’s fine. It’s pleasant, like an evening with a nice acquaintance who says just the right thing, but doesn’t actually have anything interesting to say. It’s what you’d expect from a $40–50 bottle. But, is it worth it? Maybe… if you really need a drink to look sophisticated at a dinner party, or you’ve got a shelf of whiskey where you just want something that screams “premium,” but doesn’t actually back it up with excitement. It’s like buying a car because it’s “reliable.” Fine. But when’s the last time you enjoyed it?
Angel’s Envy Port Finish
Who’s buying it?
Angel’s Envy is what happens when you take a perfectly good bourbon and try to turn it into a craft experience with a fancy port finish. The folks buying this one are definitely the “I’m a sophisticated drinker” crowd, the ones who believe drinking bourbon should be an experience—which, when you think about it, is code for, “I’m willing to pay more for something that feels exclusive.” These are the same people who own five types of bitters, can name a half-dozen whiskey distilleries in Scotland, and talk about “mouthfeel” in a way that makes everyone uncomfortable.
Is Angel’s Envy good? Yeah, sure. But here’s the rub: it’s sweet. It’s like someone tried to turn your bourbon into a dessert by dumping it in a port barrel, and I’m not sure that was necessary. The fruity, almost syrupy sweetness may be a hit for those who love wine-finished whiskeys, but it also makes you feel like you’re drinking something that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. A great dessert wine? A good bourbon? Either way, at $50–70, it’s an absolute rip-off for what it delivers. There are plenty of other whiskeys out there that give you a better experience without making you feel like you’re paying for a marketing narrative about “craftsmanship” and “innovation.” Innovative until you realize you’ve basically just paid for wine-infused whiskey.
Uncle Nearest 1856
Who’s buying it?
Uncle Nearest is for the woke bourbon drinker. The one who likes their whiskey with a side of history. “Oh, you’ve never heard of Nearest Green, the Black distiller who taught Jack Daniel’s how to make whiskey? Well, you must try this one.” It’s the whiskey equivalent of “I read a book about race relations, so now I’m going to order this because I’m cultured.” But hey, it’s good stuff—don’t get me wrong. If you’re paying this much for bourbon, it’s nice to at least have a cool backstory. Uncle Nearest 1856 delivers a smooth, rich whiskey with notes of caramel, oak, and a gentle spiciness. It’s like an educational experience in a bottle. You can impress your friends with both your taste in whiskey and your knowledge of American history.
But, let’s be honest here—is it worth it? At $50–60, it’s a solid, enjoyable bourbon, but not revolutionary. For this price, you’re mostly paying for the narrative and a well-crafted bottle. You’ll likely enjoy it, but are you wowed? Eh. It’s the whiskey equivalent of ordering a salad at a restaurant because you’re “trying to be healthy,” when really you’re just annoyed by the idea of all the fried food your friends are eating. It’s good, but it doesn’t make your soul soar.
The Final Showdown
Alright, let’s wrap this up with a little comparison, just to see if any of these actually deliver on the promise of “worth it.
- Woodford Reserve:
- Verdict: Probably not worth it. It’s fine, but it’s the bourbon equivalent of a reliable, yet boring friend. You’ll be fine, but you’ll probably regret not trying something more exciting.
- Angel’s Envy:
- Verdict: It’s sweet, it’s fine, but it’s definitely not worth what you’re paying. If you like a sugary bourbon that thinks it’s special, go ahead. But you can get better experiences (without the port finish) at a fraction of the cost. Sorry, Angel’s Envy—it’s not you, it’s your price tag.
- Uncle Nearest 1856:
- Verdict: It’s a good, well-rounded bourbon with a heartwarming story behind it. If you’re a sucker for a good narrative, it’s worth the price, but otherwise, you might find yourself reaching for something more flavorful at the same price. It’s like buying the “limited edition” sneakers because they have a backstory. Nice, but maybe not the best choice in the long run.
The Takeaway
So, here’s the reality: None of these whiskies are a bad choice, but they’re also not the best value for your money. You’re mostly paying for the backstory, the marketing, and the idea of a premium product. If you like the branding, by all means, splurge away. But if you’re looking for something that’s actually worth your hard-earned cash—something with more flavor for the price—there are definitely better options out there. And let’s face it, if you wanted to truly impress, you’d skip all three of these and go with something like Blanton’s or Woodford Double Oaked instead. But hey, keep drinking the stories, folks. The labels look great on Instagram.
Oh, and be on the lookout for our follow up to this by clicking here – what you should be drinking instead from each of these brands.